i'fR 




I 



si 



£ 






SKETCHES 



OF 



NEWPORT AND ITS VICINITY; 



AVITH 



]¥ O T I € E S 



RESPKCTING THE 



HISTORY, SETTLEMENT AND GEOGRAPHY 



RHODE ISLAND. 



ILLUSTRATED WITH E X G R A V I N G S . 



NEW-YORK: 
JOHN S. TAYLOR & CO. 145 NASSAU STREET. 



1842 



1 ■■'/ 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 



CHAPTER I. 

Mr. Thornton's Breakfast-Table — Conversation on board the 
Steam-Boat — Arrival at Newport — Reception of the young 
Strangers. 

" Another cup if you please, Miss Katie" said 
Mr. Thornton as he handed his cup to his daugh- 
ter, " and then I will take a turn out and look for 
this lagging steamer that should have been in an 
hour since." 

" We shall doubtless hear the bell before we 
finish breakfast," replied Miss Katie, " and if we 
do not it cannot be unpleasant on the water in 
such a morning as this, dear Sir." 

"Not even to be tumbling about in the surf at our 
sweet ' Point Comfort'' I suppose," replied the old 



4 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

gentleman, ironically, " but remember Katie, every- 
body cannot relish such a pastime." 

" Neither should I, my dear Father," returned 
his daughter as she presented his coffee, " but I 
think there cannot be a great swell even at Point 
Judith to-day, for there is scarcely a breath of 
wind." 

*' I do not remember ever to have heard of even 
a steam-boat that would move more rapidly and 
easily through a heavy sea because there was no 
wind," returned Mr. Thornton, smiling, "how- 
ever, we shall see. Miss Katie, we shall see." 

'' Ah, a fresh supply of muffins, I see, Phillis/' 
observed Mrs. Guthrie, the aged housekeeper, as 
the black woman entered. " This way my " neat- 
handed Phillis," and let your master pay his re- 
spects to them." cried Mr. Thornton, adding, 
'• Pshaw, Katie, I wish those urchins were here to 
partake of them." " Mrs. Guthrie will take care 
that a warm breakfast shall be ready for them, 
Sir," replied Miss Katie, in her quiet manner. 

*' Well Cato," exclaimed her father, as the aged 
black entered, and stationed himself behind his 
chair, " How far off may they be by this time, my 
good Cato ?" 

" 'Bout seven mile, Massa," answered the black, 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. O 

bowing respectfully, though he stood at his mas- 
ter's back. " They have a sorry time of it, I 
think," returned the old gentleman ; " is there a 

heavy sea, Cato ?" 

" Berry hebby, Sir," replied Cato, gravely sha- 
king his grey head. 

" Ay, I am convinced by the roaring of all the 
beaches, that there has been a storm at sea.— But 
how soon, think you, will the tardy boat be in, 

Cato 7" 

« ' Bout twenty or tirty minutes, Sir." 

"Weir, we must have patience. Miss Katie. 
We must have patience, Mrs. Guthrie," said the 
gentleman, although the latter lady had not ma- 
nifested the slightest symptom of impatience, 
"Rome was not built in a day, you know,— my 
good Cato ;— so we must all have patience." 

Cato grinned, as he always did, when addressed 
thus familiarly by his master, but remained re- 
spectfully silent. 

" Are you quite sure, Mrs. Guthrie, that every 
thing is prepared for their reception ?" asked the 
young lady, as they rose from the table. 

" (iuite ready, and every thing in its proper 
place, Miss Katie, except the servants' beds," an- 
swered the worthy housekeeper, as she piled her 



6 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

cups, and gathered up the spoons — "and they 
will be prepared, as soon as I know how many- 
servants Mrs. Thornton brings with her." 

" Hark 1" exclaimed Mr. Thornton, " there goes 
the boat-bell, Cato !" 

" Dat must be cutter-bell, Sir," replied Cato. 

<' 'Tis the steam-boat, I tell you," said Mr. 
Thornton, positively — " Katie, ring for my shoes, 
child." 

" Would Massa choose me take Shay to de 
wharf?" asked Cato. 

" Miss Thornton's low chaise will scarcely ac- 
commodate Mrs. Thornton and her whole family," 
replied his master, " besides, there will be baggage, 
you know." 

" Massa Seabury hack berry soon get ready, 
Sir." 

" You are right, Cato, and you must go with it, 
to look to the baggage. So off with you, or iriy 
daughter-in-law will think we are all dead," re- 
joined Mr. Thornton, and gaily added, " Hey-day ! 
Mrs. Guthrie ! we are likely to have a little bustle 
about the house now, I think." 

" Yes, Sir, I rather think we shall," replied the 
worthy housekeeper, casting an anxious look 
around her nicely polished furniture, and neatly 
swept carpets. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 7 

" Ah ! well ! never mind ; it is only for a week 
you know — we shall soon be left to be as quiet as 
we like, again," observed the old gentleman, as he 
held up his feet alternately, for the servant to 
fasten his immense shoe-buckles. " And now Bill, 
my hat and cane. — Tush !" continued Mr. Thorn- 
ton, as he moved to the door, f' Cato was right 
after all, the steamer is beyond Beaver-tail light- 
house, yet ! they will not be in this half hour, — 
and I shall have time enough for my morning's 
walk yet, Katie." 

Mr. Thornton then quitted the house, leaving 
his daughter, and Mrs. Guthrie, to make what im- 
provements they pleased, in their arrangements 
for the reception of their expected guests. The 
servants were, accordingly, soon engaged in all 
the bustle of preparation, — every face wearing an 
expression of satisfaction and every ear listening 
in pleased attention to the anecdotes related by 
Cato and Phillis, who, having attended Miss Ka- 
tie, and her father, in their frequent visits to New 
York, delighted in expatiating on the excellency 
and accomplishments, which they imagined, dis- 
tinguished the children of " dear, good, lamented 
Mr. Harry" — for to them every thing connected 
with their deceased favorite, appeared interesting 
and lovely. 



8 



VISIT TO GRAND-PATA. 



The young people, whose expected arrival had 
occasioned so much bustle and excitement in the 
usually quiet and orderly family of Mr. Thorn- 
ton, were all this time tossing about in the heavy 
sea, which is always so rough at Point Judith, as 
to render that part of the little voyage from New- 
York to Newport the dread of all who are in the 
least degree liable to sea-sickness. Unable lon- 
ger to endure the distressing motion of their 
heavy vessel, and the confined air of the cabin, 
Mrs. Thornton and her two daughters had re- 
paired at sun-rise to the deck, where, finding 
themselves much refreshed by the pure and balmy 
air of a sweet summer's morning, and charmed 
by the delightful prospects around them, that lady 
had despatched her second servant to the gentle- 
men's cabin, to awaken her sons, that they might 
partake of her enjoyment. 

Most of the passengers had already assembled 
at breakfast, but the young gentlemen were still 
sleeping so soundly, that it was some moments 
before the servant succeeded in arousing them. 

" How now ! Tom !" exclaimed Francis Thorn- 
ton, impatiently, " what do you mean by shaking 
a fellow at this rate ? I am inclined to sleep 
longer, Sir !" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. U 

"Bat you must please to get up. Sir — Mrs. 
Thornton wishes you to prepare for going on 
shore," returned the servant ; " the other gentle- 
men are all at breakfast, and we are off Point Ju- 
dith, Sir." 

" Point Judith ! breakfast ! deck !" repeated 
Frank, bewildered, and rubbing his eyes as he 
strove to recollect himself; "Oh! Tom! how 
horribly the boat rolls !" he added, falling back 
on his pillow ; " I heartily wish you had not 
awakened me !" 

" Mrs. Thornton sent me, Sir," was the reply ; 
" she wishes you to enjoy the prospect and fresh 
air ; besides. Sir, it is breakfast-time." 

" What's that you are saying there about pros- 
pects, Tom ?" cried Alfred, stretching and yawn- 
ing ; " prospects indeed 1 what are prospects to a 
man dying of sea-sickness ? — and breakfast^ too ! 
poh ! go, eat it yourself, and be thankful for your 
appetite — but there must be a terrible tempest, 
Tom — Bless me ! how the boat rolls ! where are 
we, man ?" 

" We are doubling Point Judith, Sir, in as fine 
a summer's morning as ever shone," answered 
Thomas, laughing. 

'' You are out of your senses, to say so — or you 



10 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 



think we are, if you expect to be believed," said 
Alfred. "Get up, Frank, and let us see what is the 
matter on deck." 

" Get up !" echoed Frank, " I feel as if I should 
never do that again, Alf. Harkee, Tom, you said 
something about doubling Point Judith," he ad- 
ded, endeavouring to laugh ; " Where is the use 
of douhling it, boy, when it is bad enough to go 
over it once .?" Frank sprung from his berth as he 
spoke, but a sudden pitch of the vessel nearly 
threw him back, and catching at the side, he con- 
tinued, " Hark ye, Tom Robinson, go with my 
respectful compliments, to my mother, and tell 
her that Mr. Frank Thornton is thoroughly cured 
of his predilection for a sea life. She will be 
teazed no longer I think, about getting me into the 
navy — Why, bless me, Alf!" he said, turning to 
his brother, "how much wiser has a sail of 
eighteen hours made me !" 

This speech was applauded by a hearty laugh, 
not only from Alfred, but from two or three gen- 
tlemen, who had yet lingered in their berths, and 
were now endeavoring between every pitch of 
the vessel, to escape from her cabin. 

" Well said ! Commodore ! well said, my hero 
of the navy," cried Alfred, endeavoring to appear 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 11 

gay, but uttering an involuntary tone, he added 
hastily, " Get me out, Tom ! get me on deck, if 
you have any bowels of compassion," but as he 
was quitting the cabin, with Tom's assistance, he 
looked back at his brother, and exclaimed, " Good 
day to you, Captain Thornton of the Navy 1" 

" Captain !" repeated Frank ; " Captain, in- 
deed ! — my ambition had pointed to a higher step 
of the ladder of promotion, than that^ I can tell 
you ! — ^but I am cured — positively cured] one 
such horrible lurch is enough to quell the courage 
of a bolder heart ! — and yet it is a pity, Tom," he 
laughingly added, as that personage re-entered the 
cabin, " for, with such qualifications as mine, what 
a hero I should have made ! — an Admiral, at the 
lowest calculation ! — oh Tom ! Tom ! what a loss 
to America ! — Let Britain rejoice, and — and — let 
me get out of the cabin, while I can." 

" Come hither, Francis Thornton," cried his 
mother, when he appeared on deck ; " come 
hither, my son, and, for the first time, behold the 
birth-place of your father." 

That father, so lately lost, and so deservedly 
dear, every thought of whom awakened the ten- 
derest regrets in the affectionate bosoms of his 
children, was no sooner mentioned than Frank's 



12 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

cheer was changed. He drew his hand several 
times across his eyes and gazed some moments in 
silence on the shore, thinking only of the beloved 
relative whose image his mother's words had re- 
called so vividly to his recollection. Starting, at 
length he exclaimed, in a subdued voice, ''This 
then, is Rhode-Island." 

Mrs. Thornton had leaned her face on her hand, 
to conceal the emotions which she could not sup- 
press, and sat absorbed in a train of agitating and 
mournful reflections, while, respecting her sorrows, 
her children remained profoundly silent. Even 
little Emma, as she held by her cloak, and gazed 
wistfully up in her face, stood mute and motion- 
less. 

" What a beautiful bay is here," whispered Al- 
fred at length, as he drew the hand of his eldest 
sister beneath his arm, and led her a few paces 
apart, — "what a beautiful bay is here, studded 
with its pretty green islets, Ellen. I have been 
in vain endeavoring, ever since I came on deck," 
he continued, " to recollect those verses, which my 
father wrote on beholding his native land at a 
distance, on his return to it for the first time. 
Perhaps they were composed on this very spot. 
Will you oblige me by repeating them 7" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 13 

" Certainly, if you wish it brother, but let us 
move a little farther off, or Mamma may hear me ;" 
and being conducted by her brother, to a greater 
distance from the group, in a soft low voice, El- 
len repeated the following juvenile production of 
her father : — 

LINES. 

All hail to the Isle which afar on the ocean, 

Floats like a cloud of blue mist in the sky ; 
I greet it, though distant, with joyful emotion, 

While tears of affection flow fast from mine eye. 

All hail, lovely Isle, o'er the billows appearing, 
In Summer's own beauty, all verdant and fair ; 

Every tie this fond heart has yet held most endearing, 
The friends of my bosom — my kindred are there. 

O ye soft ocean breezes ! more strongly be blowing. 
Till safely our vessel is moor'd by its shore ; 

Ye slumbering" billows more swiftly be flowing. 

Till my footstep shall press its green bosom once more. 

O there the embrace of true friendship will meet me, 
With smiles of glad welcome, as sweet as sincere. 

Their parental aflfeciion with rapture will greet me, 
Tho' its smile of delight should be dimm'd by a tear. 

All hail, lovely Isle ! happy home of my childhood. 
With what joy shall I bound to thy beautiful shore, 

2 



14 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Delightedly visit each valley and wild wood, 
Aad scenes of past joy with new rapture explore. 

O ye gales that sport round us, more freshly be blowing ! 

And waft us more swiftly o'er ocean's wide breast ; 
Ye blue briny billows more swiftly be flowing, 

Till we moor in yon isle, our sweet haven of rest. 

" Thank you, sister ;" said Alfred, as Ellen con- 
cluded ; " but come," he added, after a short 
pause, "let us join mamma, and speak cheerfully to 
her, Ellen — for even Frank, you see, seems to have 
lost his self-command." 

" There are the steeples," were the first words 
which roused Mrs. Thornton, and her little group 
from their melancholy ruminations ; they were 
uttered by a person who appeared to be a sailor, 
just as Alfred and his sister rejoined their mother. 

" Where ? Where are they ? Where is New- 
port?" demanded little Edward and Emma in 
one breath, as they eagerly approached the 
speaker — " Where are the steeples ?" 

" There away, my little Madam," replied the 
good-natured tar, pointing as he spoke. 

"Will you please to show me where grand- 
papa lives?" asked Edward, taking the rough hand 
of the worthy seaman ; " don't you know the 
house, Sir ?" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 15 

" No my little man," returned the sailor, " I 
don't know much about this here old place, except 
that it looks for all the world as if it ought to be 
overhauled^ and undergo a new outfit.''^ 

"But it is a pleasant island," cried Edward ; 
"mamma says it used to be called the Eden 
of America, — and every body knows it is the 
healthiest place in the Union." 

" Ay, ay, that there's no false reckoning neither," 
rejoined his new acquaintance, "for I've seen ma- 
ny a sheer hulk towed in here from the South'art, 
looking just fit for old Davy^ who has sailed out on't 
again in six months, all a'tanto with flying colours, 
on a new cruise of pleasure, as sound and tight 
as a new Yankee man-of-war's man ; but you'll 
see the place now we're running between the 
points," he added, as the boat, having passed Bea- 
ver-tail light-house on the southern extremity of 
Canonicut, was now gliding rapidly along between 
that island and Fort Adams, on Brenton's Point, 
"you'll see the place now, your young honor," 
said the sailor ; " there stands the old town, with 
the dew shining on its roofs, and the steeples glit- 
tering in the sun." 

" Beautiful !" exclaimed Ellen, as she viewed 
the noble bay, with its numerous verdant islands, 



IG VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

the shipping in the harbour, and the old town of 
Newport, seated on a gentle accUvityj and sloping 
down to the water in the form of a semi-circle. 
" Beautiful !" she said, " what a dehghtful scene." 

" Ay, ay, there's no need of a better ;" returned 
the honest sailor, who, pleased with the affability, 
and kind manner of the young party, seemed 
inclined to keep up the acquaintance ; " but you 
have it in the nick now, young Madam, for the sun 
is behind it, and don't show you as he would at 
noon-day ; how much truth there is in what them 
there chaps say, that don't like the place, that 
" Newjjort is a beauty without fabit^ 

" But what forts are these on either side of us?" 
asked Frank. 

"That on the starboard hand, your honor — — " 

" Nay, my friend, I do not understand star- 
boardy^ interrupted Frank. 

" No, the Admiral has'nt got to the starboard 
yet," said Alfred laughing ; '• but tell us, if you 
please, what is this." 

" That is Fort Wolcott, on Goat Island," ans- 
wered the seaman ; " there-away is Fort Adams, 
on Brenton's Point ; yonder, amongst the Dump- 
lings at Canonicut is the old stone Fort Louis, 
now in ruins ; we just now passed close under it. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 17 

There ao:ain at Rose Island, is a fort and barracks 
gone to decay, and north'ard o' the town yonder 
is Fort Green." 

" And what is that on the hill yonder behind 
Fort Greene," enquired Frank ; " that looks like 
an intrenchment also." 

" Ay, ay, Sir, it may look like a Hreiichment or 
whatever it pleases, bat its only Tammany Hill 
after all." 

'* You are perhaps a stranger in Newport, my 
good friend, said a gentleman who had listened 
with some interest to the questions and observa- 
tions of the young strangers, and who now ad- 
dressed the sailor as he joined the party ; " you 
are perhaps a stranger and may never have been 
informed that 'Tonomy Hill* was once fortified. 
It terminated the left wing of the intrenchments 
which the British threw up around the town, 
while in possession of the Island, and from the 
vestiges of their works yet remaining, it appears 
to have been a position of no inconsiderable 
strength and importance to their garrison." 

''Ay, ay, your honor — I dare say you are 
right," returned the hardy son of Neptune. " Tm 

* Vide Note I. at the end of the volume. 
2* 



18 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 



but a lubberly pilot in these soundings ; I know 
but little o' the old place except that it has the 
finest harbor and the safest anchorage in all Am- 
erica. I've seldom cruised in these latitudes, Sir." 

" It has the noblest harbor not only in Am- 
erica, but in the loorld^ I believe," rejoined the 
gentleman. 

" But Sir — Sir," cried little Edward, encouraged 
by the benignity of the stranger's countenance, 
" whose pretty house is that just by Fort Greene, 
under that hill ?" 

" It is the " country-seat" of the sick, the aged 
and the destitute, my dear," replied the gentleman, 
playfully. Edward looked perplexed and inqui- 
sitive, and observing this, the gentleman explained 
by adding, '' It is the Asylum, or Alms-house of 
Newport, and are you not glad that the poor have 
so pleasant and comfortable a home provided for 
them?" 

'' Yes indeed, Sir, I am very glad. It is the 
pleasantest poor-house I ever saw," said Edward, 
" it is so pretty, it looks like a gentleman's seat ; 
almost all I ever saw before are so gloomy that 
thejT- look like prisons, but this is very pleasant." 

'' It is indeed a pleasant and commodious dwel- 
ling, and Coaster's Harbor Island on which it 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 19 

Stands is a healthy, fertile and well-cultivated 
little spot," observed the gentleman. " Viewed 
from hence it looks as if it were a part of Rhode 
Island projecting into the bay, but in reality, it is 
itself an island, separated from Rhode-Island by a 
narrow creek." 

<' If I do not greatly mistake, Sir" said Alfred, 
'' there was an engagement on this island during 
the revolutionary war." 

'• You are correct. Sir," was the reply, '' the 
battle occurred while the British were in posses- 
sion of the island. It was fought between Ctuaker 
Hill and Butts' Hill, — and any of the inhabitants 
will point out the battle-ground. You will iind 
on the island the remains of many intrenchments 
that were thrown up during that eventful period, 
and may collect among the inhabitants of New- 
port very many amusing anecdotes relative to the 
Revolution." 

" But the battle of which my brother was speak- 
ing. Sir," asked Frank, " did it not terminate 
favorably for the Americans ?" 

'' They drove the British back to their lines, but 
being disappointed of the aid expected from the 
French fleet, under Count D'Estaing, they were 
unable to pursue the advantage they had gained 



20 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

and the British squadron appearing in the offing, 
compelled them to abandon their enterprise," an- 
swered the gentleman. 

"I don't remember much about them there 
times," observed the sailor ; " for why, I wasn't 
born, then, d'ye see, your honors ; but the 
sharpest fight I ever see since I first set sail for 
the v'yge o' life, was the battle font here at Sessa- 
wich Beach, in Middletown. It bears here-away, 
young gentlemen, east and by south, and lies 
about two or three miles from old Newport. It 
fell out during the last war. The English king's 
craft called the Nimrod, chased in one of our 
merchant-men, and fired on our people who got 
together to prevent their capturing her. The 
Nimrod was commanded by one Pigot." 

"And you witnessed the battle, my good 
friend?" cried Alfred, as the young peoi)le with 
awakened interest gathered around the seaman. 

"Ay, ay Sir — I happened to be in Newport at 
the time, and so when the Fencibles and artillery- 
boys marched down alongside the militia, to drive 
ofi" the Eiiglishers, I went along to lend 'em a 
hand, d'ye see Sir, for I could'nt see my own 
countrymen fired on like so many wild ducks, 
without wishing to give the furreiners a blow 
or two." 



«ji 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 21 

" You acted like a true-hearted Yankee, my 
lad," cried Frank, " and I wish I had been with 
you, and old enough to have struck a blow in so 
good a cause, — but tell us all about it." 

" Ay, ay Sir, — you shall hear it ail — though 
that's not a great deal neither," replied the honest 
tar, flattered by their commendations ; " we were 
called to arms at dead of night, and to make the 
matter worse, there came on a tempest of wind, 
rain, and thunder, and a dismal time we had o'nt. 
However, a true sailor never leaves his ship- 
mates in the limhoes, ye see gentlemen, so I stuck 
to my countrymen. We had a sharp fight, and 
one of our militia-men was killed, an honest, 
clever young farmer, who was next day to have 
been married, they told me. 'Fore George, Sir," 
added the sailor, as the blood rushed with indig- 
nation to his weather-beaten countenance, "I can 
never think even to this day, how I was covered 
with the blood and brains of that poor lad, but I 
long to have another lick at them there lubbers 
who could so mangle a fellow creature out of the 
very shape of humanity, in such imseamanlike 
fashion !" 

" Was there but one man killed ?" inquired 
Frank, in surprise. 



22 VISIT TO ORA.ND-PAPA. 

" Only one killed, but two or three of my mess- 
mates lost their arms or legs ; and if that there 
other battle your honors spoke of was better /oz<^, 
or more eventfuller^ why I don't know what 
sharp fighting is ; that's all your honor. 

" I recollect the skirmish you speak of, my lad, 
for I was on the beach as soon as the sun rose," 
observed the gentleman. "Do you remember," 
he added, " how busily the ragged little urchins 
were running about the beach and scrambling for 
the cannon balls, as if they had been figs thrown 
at them in sport ?" 

*' Ay, Sir, I mind it all, and wonder none o' the 
monkeys got killed," replied the tar, adding with 
much solemnity as he shook his head ''A sharp 
fight, that Sir ! — a sharp fight ! " 

"Sharp enough, in all conscience," answered 
the gentleman smiling, " and for mine own part, 
I have no desire to witness a more bloody or des- 
perate engagement." 

" A desper'te fight, sure enough, your honor, 
but I've often wondered the Rhode-Islanders fared 
no worse, for the enemy inight have landed with- 
out running foul o' the forts, almost any where, 
an I've seen no less than thirteen sail of 'em in 
the ofling at a time, more than once — but they 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 23 

never did any harm, except at the skrimmage I've 
told you of, and once when the British frigate, the 
Orpheus, chased in and burnt the Wampoa, a fine 
ship with a full cargo of brandy, &c.— but I 
wasn't here at the time." 

" But why did the little boys on the beach 
scramble for the cannon-balls, Sir ?" asked little 
Edward, who had been exceedingly puzzled to 
account for such a procedure. 

" They were poor children, my dear, and I dare 
say gained a great many pennies by selling them," 
replied the good-natured gentleman — " Did you 
never see poor children picking up old nails, and 
bits of old iron in the streets, to sell ?" 

^' How long, Sir, were the British in possession 
of Rhode-Island ?" inquired Francis, before his 
brother could answer. 

'' About three years,"* was the reply, '' they took 
possession of it on the 6th December, 1776, and 
evacuated it, October 25th, 1779, and during all 
that time, exerted themselves to the utmost, to do 
us every possible injury. They plundered the 
inhabitants, robbed the churches, cut down, and 
utterly destroyed our flourishing orchards and 

♦ Vide Note II. 



24 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

nurseries, burned nine hundred houses for fuel, 
and when they evacuated the place, not a tree or 
a fence was left standing." 

" I should think they might have spared the 
churches;" said Edward, "for they could have 
done them no harm-" 

« In their great condescension they did spare 
the Episcopal church ; but the shells of all the 
rest, after having been pillaged, and dismantled 
of pews and pulpits, were converted by them into 
hospitals for their soldiery." 

" How wicked ! to make hospitals of churches !" 
said Edward. 

" It was better than making stables of them, as 
they did with the " Old South" at Boston — and 
others," rejoined the gentleman, " but" added he, 
interrupting himself, " we are at the wharf — La- 
dies, I congratulate you on the termination of 
your voyage," and bowing to our httle party he 
repaired to the cabin to give some orders respect- 
ing his baggage. The boat now glided to the 
wharf on which a crowd of people were already 
assembled awaiting her arrival, some to receive 
expected friends, some in quest of letters, and 
others to embark (immediately) for Providence, 
for which place the steamer after having landed 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 25 

her passengers at Newport, immediately departed. 
Mrs. Thornton and her children were very happy 
to recognize old Cato, who after manfully elbow- 
ing his way through the crowd, was among the first 
that came on board and greeted the children in 
his imperfect English, while tears of joy rolled 
over his sable cheeks. Having seen them all safely 
deposited in the coach he called to Mrs. Thorn- 
ton's footman to follow his example, and spring- 
ing up behind the vehicle, they were all rapidly 
whirled away together from the crowd of coaches, 
gigs and drays, and emerging from the Long 
Wharf, were soon rattling over the pavement of 
Thames-street. 

" I rejoice that we are off these odious pave- 
ments," exclaimed Ellen, as they turned into one 
of the streets leading to " the Hill" where the 
residence of Mr. Thornton was situated, in front of 
which that gentleman was still passing, exceed- 
ingly impatient for their arrival. 

" You look very much indisposed, mother," said 
Alfred, observing with solicitude her unusual 
paleness. 

"Mamma is fatigued" said Ellen, " and I shall be 
glad when we arrive at grand-papa's that she may 
obtain rest." 

3 



26 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" Oh, what is that on the Hill there, Frank ?" 
cried little Ned. 

" That !" repeated Frank, " that must be the old 
Tower, of which we have heard so much, Ed- 
ward. Look Ellen ! would you not have known 
it after seeing the sketch of it, grand-papa made 
forus?" 

Every one now bent eagerly forward to obtain 
a view of that much celebrated and very singular 
ruin. 

"We shall be home in a few minutes now, 
mother," said Alfred. " for grand-papa's house is 
but a few rods from the old Tower." 

" Then that must be the house where that gen- 
tleman is standing," said Ellen. 

"And that gentleman is grand-papa himself, 
Ellen," cried Frank ; "I am sure at least that he 
has on my grandfather's great-cocked hat." 

" Oh dear, how proud and cross he looks ! 
standing up so very straight and with such an 
ugly hat on !" exclaimed little Emma, in alarm ; 
"Dear me! Mamma ! Is that my grand-papa?" 

" I don't remember very well how he looked," 
said Edward, but is he not a very stern old gen- 
tleman, mother?" 

" Not stern perhaps — but if you would not dis- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 27 

please him you must behave with the strictest 
propriety ; and none of you, I hope, will ever be 
inclined to act otherwise J^ said Mrs. Thornton. 

*' Dear me ! what a great double chin, long 
queue, and ugly hat, grand-papa has !" cried little 
Emma, unable to reconcile herself to these pecu- 
liarities ;" Dear me ! I'm afraid he's a very cross 
and proud old gentleman." 

*' He is neitlier, my dear, notwithstanding the 
long queue and double chin, which inspire you 
with so much awe" — said her mother. 

The carriage wheeled round as she spoke, and 
drew up to the door, on the steps of which Mr. 
Thornton and his daughter were both now stand- 
ing ; Mrs. Guthrie likewise appeared in the hall 
with the servants behind her, all desirous of ob- 
taining a view of their visiters. 

It is unnecessary to say that they were wel- 
comed with delight by their affectionate relatives, 
and on finding herself in the arms of her grand- 
father and tenderly caressed by him, little Emma 
soon forgot \io\Y proud and cross she had so lately 
thought he looked, notwithstanding he continued 
to retain both the " great chin and long queue'' 
without in the least suspecting the alarm they 
had excited ; and she prattled away about the 



28 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

porpoises and big waves she had seen on her 
voyage, to the great delight of Mr. Thornton and 
the no httle annoyance of poor Mrs. Guthrie, 
who, unaccustomed to the noise of children, at 
length effected her escape, and found the pro- 
found silence she loved in her own room. 

Mrs. Thornton being extremely fatigued, and 
feeling very languid in consequence of her late 
sufferings by sea-sickness, was glad to be conduc- 
ted to her chamber, whither she was accompanied 
by her eldest daughter and Miss Katie, leaving 
the other young people to the care of their indul- 
gent grand-father, with whom, acknowledging 
themselves too weary for walking, they remained 
within doors. A fine telescope having by Mr. 
Thornton's order been carried to the top of the 
house, the young people amused themselves in 
surveying the many fine prospects their situation 
commanded. Mrs. Thornton joined them at din- 
ner, after which Mr. Thornton entertained them 
by relating many very interesting revolutionary 
anecdotes, and amusing traditions of the island. 
With so much to interest and divert them they 
were scarcely aware of the lapse of time till sum- 
moned to tea. The evening passed happily away, 
and Mr. Thornton at ten assembled his household 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 29 

around the family altar, there to present their uni- 
ted tribute of praise to the merciful Being whose 
protecting care had preserved them through the 
day, and conducted the family of his son through 
the dangers of their voyage, in health and safety 
to the home which had been the scene of all the 
youthful enjoyments of their loved and lamented 
father. And having committed themselves to the 
care of Him who had created and redeemed them, 
the happy family separated and retired with con- 
sciences void of offence, to the enjoyment of their 
peaceful slumbers. 



3* 



f ! 



CHAPTER II. 

Notices respecting the History, Settlement and Geography of 

Rhode-Island Walk around Newport Public Buildings, 

&c. Sac. 

Refreshed and in high spirits, the young Thorn- 
tons rose on the ensuing morning, just as the sun 
began to glitter on the gilded spires of Newport, 
and on the woody hills of Narraganset. Early, 
however, as they thought it, Mr. Thornton and 
his daughter were already up, and the domestics 
busily employed under the direction of the vene- 
rable Mrs. Guthrie. Mr. Thornton was busy in 
his garden, where he had already gathered fresh 
flowers for his daughter, who on the appearance 
of her young relatives, was engaged in arranging 
them over the mantels, and immediately demanded 
their assistance, for Miss Katie well knew that 
" employment is enjoyment," and could devise no 
better means of amusing them till their mother 
should be ready to attend morning-prayers, which 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 31 

was the first duty attended to by Mr. Thornton, 
a duty which was never omitted, on any occasion 
or pretense whatever, by that truly pious christian. 

The flowers were beautifully arranged in all 
the apartments, and Miss Thornton's large collec- 
tion of exotic plants had been duly attended to 
before Mrs. Thornton and her youngest child 
made their appearance — so greatly had they been 
fatigued. 

*' Oh how I wish I could always live here !" 
cried little Emma, clapping her hands with de- 
light, as she beheld the beautiful flowers that were 
blooming around her, and heard the song of the 
numberless birds that enlivened the fields and 
gardens on every side. " We do not hear so many 
delightful birds even when we are at mamma's 
country house, at home." 

<' We should doubtless hear as many at Harlaem 
my love, if the gentlemen there would forego their 
cruel sports," said Mrs. Thornton. 

" Aye, mamma, but they will not be persuaded to 
do that, I'm afraid," said Edward. " But you have 
no such cruel sportsmen here, aunty." 

" Too many by half, Edward" answered Miss 
Katie, " there is scarcely a day that I do not have 
to lament the fall of some of my feathered friends. 



32 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

If the poor birds were destroyed for food it would 
be another matter ; but to kill them merely for the 
pleasure of seeing them die appears to me to 
evince so sanguinary and savage a disposition as 
absolutely disgusts me, and I heartily wish them 
some better and more manly employment, for their 
own sakes, as well as because the country in my 
opinion loses half its charms when deprived of 
the melody of our pretty songsters." 

'' You are right Miss Katie," said her father, 
who just then entered (and was soon after followed 
by the domestics) " you are right my daughter," 
he said, " the music of our fields and gardens gives 
a charm to a Rhode-Island summer, which I have 
seldom found in such perfection elsewhere — and 
there is something so refreshing in the gladness 
of their notes, that a heart must be lost to every 
feeling of benevolence as well as to those of grat- 
itude, which amidst the beauty, joy and sunshine 
of such a morning, feels no inclination to unite 
in their songs of thankfulness to the Creator of 
the glorious heavens and blooming earth. Let 
us praise Him my children," continued Mr. Thorn- 
ton, " for praise is comely," especially in the morn- 
ing of existence and amidst the sunshine of pros- 
perity," and kneeling as he spoke the pious old man 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 33 

poured forth in behalf of his happy family and 
contented domestics, a heartfelt tribute of gratitude 
and praise to the great and glorious Being who 
created and upholds the Universe. When their 
devotions were concluded and the servants retired, 
Mr. Thornton moved to an open window from 
whence with a countenance beaming with benign 
satisfaction, he gazed abroad on the verdant fields 
and gardens and the wide expanse of blue ocean 
that stretched before him far as the eye could 
reach. — Stealing quietly to his side, Ellen placed 
her hand affectionately in his, and followed with 
her mild blue eye the direction of his glance. '' It 
is a beautiful prospect, my dear," said her 
grandfather smiling affectionately on her,— but 
Mr. Thornton was interrupted by Edward, who 
seizing the hand of his aunt drew her towards 
the breakfast room exclaiming " do make haste 
dear aunty, for you cannot think how monstrous 
hungry I am !" 

^' Hungry are you ? master Ned ?" repeated his 
grandfather, " you see then, how easily a good 
appetite may be earned by early rising — and 
here is a substantial Yankee breakfast for you. 
So come along my children, and let us see who 
will best relish the good things that Mrs. Guthrie 
has provided for us." 



34 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

A summons from the good lady herself, now 
hurried them to the breakfast table where with 
excellent appetites they partook of her hot muffins 
and broiled mackerel, a fish which at that season 
regularly appears at every breakfast table in New- 
port. 

" I should like to taste some of that bread, that 
is flat and smooth and looks so nicely brown," said 
Edward after having dispatched a muffin or two. 

''That is 'Johnny-cake,'" observed Mrs. Guth- 
rie. 

"Johnny-cake!" echoed little Emma; "oh! 
what a droll name !" 

" It is very good bread, notwithstanding" said 
Mr. Thornton. 

" Its proper name is journey-cake, I believe," 
said Miss Katie, "though it is commonly pronoun- 
ced Johnny cake." 

" And is this journey-cake made of rye ?" asked 
Ellen. 

" No my dear," replied her aunt " this is what 
we call an Indian journey-cake, that is to say, it 
is made of the meal of maize or Indian-corn only ; 
sometimes, however, we make it of maize and rye 
together." 

" And why do we never see it in New York ?" 
asked Ellen ?" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 35 

" I have sometimes seen it there when visiting" 
people from New England, though very rarely," 
replied Mrs. Thornton, " as our meal at New 
York is almost always bolted^ and consequently 
too fine to be converted into journey-cakes." 

"You have heardof the oat-meal-cakes, or han- 
nocks of Scotland, my dear," said Mr. Thornton, 
*' and our journey-cakes are as common and pecu- 
liar to New Eno^land. It is Yankee-bread, Ellen." 

" I like Johnny^s-cake very much, for it is very 
sweet," said Edward, " I only wish Mr. Johnny 
had made it oi finer xn.QB\, for it hurts my teeth." 

" That vv^ould spoil it for a Yankee, Edward," 
said Miss Katie, laughing at the difficulty he 
seemed to find in masticating bread composed of 
such coarse materials, " %oe do not like your bolted 
meal, though it is thought by some, that the 
coarseness of our own is injurious to the teeth." 

" Well, I will try to eat some of it another time," 
said Edward, laying it aside, " and now, grand- 
papa, please to tell me, why it is called journey- 
cake?" 

"It is so called, I imagine, because it is the 
most easily and speedily prepared by people in the 
hurry of a journey ; is it not so, Miss Katie ?" 
asked Mr. Thornton, turning to his daughter. 



36 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

"I have always heard so, sir," replied Miss 
Thornton, " it is made, Edward, like the cakes 
we read of in the Bible," she continued ; «' you 
remember that the wives of the patriarchs made 
cakes and baked them on the hearth. If you 
should go to the kitchen now, I think you would 
find one bakina: on a board before the fire. AVill 
he not, Mrs. Guthrie ?" 

" Yes, ma'am," replied the amused Mrs. Guthrie, 
*'but take care that you do not jog the board 
and overturn the cake," added that ever careful 
housewife, for if the ashes get on it, it will be 
spoiled." 

Edward quitted the room to satisfy his curios- 
ity, and when he returned, found his grand-father 
and aunt planning the amusements of the day. 

" May I go with you, grand-papa ?" he eagerly 
asked. 

" Certainly, on condition however, that you first 
tell me the latitude and longitude of Newport, 
and the number of its inhabitants." 

Edward looked a little startled for a moment, but 
receiving an encouraging look from his mother, 
and a smile from his aunt, after a little hesita- 
tion replied, " Newport lies in latitude 41 degrees, 
29 minutes North, and in 71 degrees, 17 minutes, 
East longitude, and contains 8.000 inhabitants." 



VISIT TO GRAND -PAPA. 37 

"Right, Edward, perfectly right," said Mr. 
Thornton, '' and now, what can my little Emma 
tell me ? Do you know nothing of our Island, 
my dear V 

" Yes, indeed, grand-papa ; it is my own papa's 
island, and I do know a great deal about it ; for 
Alfred and Frank and sister Ellen teach me," re- 
plied the little prattler, " and I can say the latitude 
and longitude too, as well as brother Edward. But 
what latitude and longitude 7nean, I don't know 
yet, any more than the 'incm-in-the-moonP 

*' The man-in-the-moon may be a very learned 
personage, for ought we know to the contrary, my 
dear," said Mr. Thornton, playfully, "but tell me, 
if you loiow how long and broad our pretty island 
is?" 

" It is fifteen miles long, and three and a half 
broad, and there are 40,000 sheep on it, besides 
horses and cattle ; and there are goats, and dogs, 
and cats, and rabbits too, grand-papa ; for I have 
seen them myself," added the little romp, *' and 1 
don't know the reason, why they did not tell me 
to say them too." 

" You are right to take notice of these things 
yourself, my dear," replied her delighted grand- 
father ; " but they are of less consequence than 

4 



38 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

cattle and sheep, you know ; but what else can 
you tell me ?" 

'' Why, grand-papa, Alfred says that Rhode-Is- 
land used to be called the Eden of America^ and 
that means the pleasantest place, like the garden 
where Adam and Eve lived ;" replied Emma, as 
she now climbed her grand-father's knee, " and he 
told m.e too, that the British soldiers cut down all 
the trees and orchards, and burned the houses, 
and spoiled the country ;" " but," added she in 
a whisper, " I do not believe that, for I sec a great 
many trees and orchards, and houses, and country- 
seats all about us, grand-papa." 

*'A11 these orchards and trees have been planted 
since the British went away, my dear, which is 
more than fifty years since," replied her grand- 
father ; '' but Edward, can you tell me, when 
Rhode-Island was first settled." 

*'In 1636, sir, by Roger WilHams, who had 
been banished from the colony of Massachusetts, 
for refusing to join in communion with their 
churches, and for his religious tenets which they 
condemned. Having purchased a tract of land of 
the Indian Sachems, Osamequin* and Canonicus, 

* Commonly called Massassoit. 



VISIT TO GRANDPAPA. 39 

he laid the foundation of a town at Mooshawsac, 
which town he called Providence, and which is 
situated about thirty miles above Newport, in 
Narragansett Bay." 

"Very well answered, Edward, but you are 
speaking of the State^ and / meant the isla7idy^ 
said Mr. Thornton, "do you know any thing of 
the matter, my little fellow ?" 

" Oh yes, sir ;" replied Edward, "Rhode-Island 
was first settled by a Mrs. Hutchinson and a num- 
ber of her party, who on account of their religious 
opinions had been likewise banished from Massa- 
chusetts. By the assistance of Sir Henry Vane, 
they obtained from the Indian Sachems a deed 
conveying this island to the English, on the 24th 
of March 1638. The settlement of the island was 
begun at the North-end, near a narrow strait, and 
called Portsmouth." 

"And when v/as Newport settled, Frank ?'» 
asked Mr. Thornton abruptly, on perceiving his 
look of extreme impatience. 

" Sir !" cried Frank, in a tone of undisguised 
'amazement and displeasure, on being questioned 
like a child. 

"Sir !" repeated his grand-father, imitating his 
tone and air of offended dignity in pronouncing 



40 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

the word, '' I asked you to inform me when New- 
port was settled, /SiV," he added. 

" It was settled in 1639, I believe, sir." replied 
Frank, recollecting himself and coloring- deeply, 
^' Newport was settled in 1639, sir, by Mr. William 
Coddington, of the Society of Friends, and seven- 
teen others. Mr. Coddington was afterwards 
Governor." 

" You will not be offended, I hope, Miss Katie, 
if I venture to ask you, when the first church 
was founded in Newport," said her father. 

A Baptist church was founded in Newport in 
1644, sir, by Mr. John Clarke, a leading character 
amongst the exiles," answered Miss Katie, throw- 
ing an arch-glance at her nephew Francis, who 
colored deeper than before at this oblique re- 
proof from his grand-father. 

" Do you recollect, Miss Ellen, what was the 
old Indian name of Rhode Island?" 

"It was called Aquidneck,* Aquidnet or Aquid- 
nay, which in the Indian tongue signifies the 
" Isle of Peace", sir," answered Ellen. 

" And now, Mr. Alfred, what is the Constitution 
of our State, enquired Mr. Thornton, turning to 
his eldest grand-son. 

* See Note III. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 41 

" The Constitution of Rhode Island," answered 
Alfred promptly, "is founded on a Charter granted 
by King Charles the Second of England, in 1GG3, 
the frame of Government not having been essen- 
tially altered by the Revolution. The Legislature 
consists of two branches, an Upper and a Lower 
House, or Senate, composed of a Governor, and 
Deputy Governor, and ten Members, called Assist- 
ants J in the Charter ; and a House of Represent- 
atives, composed of Deputies from the several 
towns. The Members of the Legislature are 
chosen twice a year, and there are two Sessions 
of this body annually, namely, on the first Wed- 
nesday in May, and the last Wednesday in Sep- 
tember." 

" They seem very fond of Wednesdays^ I think, 
grand-papa," said Edward. 

Mr. Thornton rewarded his remark with a smile 
and a playful rap on the head, then turning to 
Francis once more, inquired : " In whom, Mr. 
Frank, is the Supreme Executive power of the 
State of Rhode Island vested?" 

" The Supreme Executive power of Rhode-Is- 
land, is vested in the Governor," replied Frank, 
starting so suddenly as to overturn a plate, cup 

and tea-spoon, and trying to suppress a yawn as 

4* 



42 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

he continued : " In the absence of the Governor, 
it devolves on the Deputy Governor, v/ho with 
the Assistants, Secretary, and General Treasurer, 
are chosen annually, in May. The Governor pre- 
sides in the Upper House, but has only a single 
voice in enacting laws." 

" And you seem to have scarcely so much to 
say for any thing, Francis," said his mother in a 
tone of gentle reproach. 

" Well ! go to sleep, Frank, go to sleep again," 
said Mr. Thornton, " while Alfred tells me how 
many Courts we have in Rhode-Island." 

" There is one Supreme Judicial Court, com- 
posed of five Judges, whose jurisdiction extends 
over the whole State," replied Alfred, " and they 
hold two Courts annually in each County. There 
is also an inferior Court of Common Pleas and 
General Sessions of the Peace, in each County, 
holden twice a year, for the trial of causes not 
capital, arising within the County, from which an 
Appeal lies to the Supreme Court." 

" And now," asked Mr. Thornton, " which of 
you will tell me, how many Colleges there are in 
Rhode-Island ?" 

«' There is only one sir," answered Frank, 
rousing himself with the air of a person, deter- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 43 

mined on getting through an unpleasant task as fast 
as possible, '' It was founded at Warren, in Bristol 
County, 1764, and its first commencement was held 
there in 1769. In 1770 it was however removed 
to Providence, where a large and handsome edifice 
was erected for its accommodation. At the com- 
mencement in 1804, Nicholas Brown Esq., gave 
$5000 as a foundation for a Professorship of Ora- 
tory and Belles Lettres, in consequence of which the 
Corporation have given to Rhode-Island College 
the name of ' Brown University in Providence 
and Rhode-Island Plantations.'" 

"Well got over, Frank," cried Mr. Thornton 
laughing, '' but you have not told us a word of 
the College buildings having been occupied by the 
French and American troops during the Revo- 
lution, and the interruption which that war occa- 
sioned to the course of education. Not a word 
have you told us either of its Professorships or its 
Charter." 

" The Charter of the College was granted by 
the General Assembly of the State," resumed 
Frank, '^ by the name of the ' Trustees and Fel- 
lows of the College or University of the English 
Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Planta- 
tions, in 1764.' By this Charter the Corporation 



44 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

consists of two distinct branches, with separate 
and respective powers. — The Trustees are thirty- 
six in number of whom twenty-two must be Bap- 
tists, five of the denomination of Friends, five 
Episcopahans and four CongregalionaUsts. The 
same proportions of the different denominations is 
to endure perpetually. The number of the Fellows 
inclusive of the President who is a Fellow ex 
officio, is twelve, of whom eight must be Baptists 
— the rest may be chosen indiscriminately from 
any other denomination. The President must be 
a Baptist but the Professors may be of any de- 
nomination. The Corporation meets annually on 
the first Wednesday in September at which time 
the commencement is held." 

*' You have recited the lesson well, and verbatim 
from Dr. Morse, Frank," observed Mr. Thornton, 
'' Can you tell us how many Professorships there 
are at Brown's University ?" 

" There is, first, a professorship of Divinity — 
2d, a professorship of Law — 3d, a professorship 
of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics — 4th, a 
professorship of Anatomy and Surgery. — A pro- 
fessorship of Materia Medica and Botany — a pro- 
fessorship of Oratory and Belles Letters, founded 
by Nicholas Brown, Esq. in 1S04 — a professorship 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 45 

of the Theory and Practice of Physic — a profes- 
sorship of Chimistry — a professorship of Mathe- 
matics, and lastly a professorship of Natural Phi- 
losophy and Astronomy. There are likewise 
several Societies in connection with this Univer- 
sity," continued Frank, " namely, the Philermen- 
ian Society, with a library of 1500 volumes, found- 
ed 1794. — The United Brothers Society, with a 
library of 1250 volumes, founded in 1807. The 
Philermenian Society founded in 1816, whose 
object is to supply necessitous students with books 
— and the Philophysian Society, whose object is 
the cultivation of Natural Science. This Society 
possesses a valuable Ghimical Apparatus and have 
lately established a Library in connection with it." 

" Are there any mines in our State ? Ellen," 
asked Mr. Thornton. 

"Yes, sir. There is a copper mine in the 
township of Cumberland, the copper of which is 
mixed with iron, strongly impregnated with load- 
stone, of which several specimens have been dug 
up. Iron ore is found in great plenty in sev- 
eral parts of the State. There are also very 
productive coal-mines on the island of Rhode- 
Island — and a great abundance of lime-stone of 
different colors, has likewise been found in the 
State which Dr. Morse calls ' the true marble.' " 



46 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

"Remind me Ellen," said Miss Katie, "before 
you leave us, to show you some curious and beau- 
tiful stones I have, which were found at Cumber- 
land, at Bristol and at Diamond Hill near Prov- 
idence. I have likewise a set of ornaments of 
what is called the Bristol Amethyst, which were 
presented me by a friend. It is very beautiful, 
and has frequently been set and worn by ladies 
of my acquaintance." 

" Grand-papa" cried Edward, " did I not see 
specimens of quartz, iron pyrites and asbestos 
among your collection, yesterday ?" 

Mr. Thornton nodded an afllrmative. 

" Perhaps Edward, you can recollect something 
to tell us concerning the asbestos my love," said 
Mrs. Thornton. 

" Oh yes, mamma, I recollect. The ancients used 
to make a cloth of it that would not burn, to wrap 
the bodies of their dead in, lest their ashes should 
mingle with the ashes of the wood, which they 
used in burnins: them. I should like to see some 
of that cloth." 

"I will give you specimens of all our Rhode- 
Island minerals before you go, if you will promise 
to tell me a great deal about minerals when I pay 
you my Christmas visit," said his grandfather. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 47 

"Give them to brother Alfred, if you please 
grand-papa, for he is very fond of the study," said 
Edward, " and I will learn all I can about them 
just as well as if I were to have them myself." 

'' Thank you, my generous little fellow !" re- 
plied Alfred, " but I am fond of collecting them 
you know, and can procure them without robbing 
you of yours." 

" Settle it your own way young gentlemen," said 
Mr. Thornton as he rose from the table, adding 
" I am pleased to find you all so well acquainted 
with the history and geography of our State." 

" Thank my stars ! the catechism is over at 
last !" whispered Frank to Alfred, as he started 
joyfully up. 

Alfred answered by a reproachful glance, and 
putting his arm through that of his venerable 
grandfather turned away. 

" After so long a penance Frank, what say you 
to a ramble about town ?" asked Mr. Thornton, 
^' for I perceive your mother is still looking too 
feeble for our intended excursion to Easton's 
Beach." 

" On the contrary, my dear sir, I was just going 
to propose availing ourselves of so fine a morning, 
and going thither," replied Mrs. Thornton, 



48 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" You shall do no such thing, my dear," said 
Mr. Thornton, positively, " Easton's Beach, in- 
deed ! you might as well talk of a walk to Saror 
toga or Niagara, with that pale face." 

" It shall be as you please then, sir," returned 
Mrs. Thornton. 

" Nay, it musf rejoined the father-in-law, " for 
Miss Katie allows nobody to gainsay the com- 
mands of her old father. So come and get your 
hats boys — and here, some of you, tie on this 
httle girl's mittens. She shall go along with 
grand-papa too." 

" Oh yes, aunty will put on my bonnet," cried 
little Emma. 

" Well, if aunt Katie pleases," said the gentle 
Ellen. 

" Aunt Katie pleases to do every thing in her 
power for you all," said Mr. Thornton while his 
daughter complied with the whims of the little 
girl, " There, Miss Katie, don't muffle her up too 
much this warm day," he added as he took the 
hand of little Emma. " Come along young gen- 
tlemen, and good morning to you ladies," he said 
as he moved to the door with all the youthful 
party except Ellen, who like the ever-attentive 
Alfred had observed the languid look of her mo- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 49 

ther and preferred remaining with her, to going 
out without her. 

" She is only bored to death with the tedious 
geographical lecture with which grand-papa has 
been pleased to regale us," said Frank as his bro- 
ther alluded to her ill looks <' but hark'ye Alfred, 
don't make the matter worse by telling her she 
looks indisposed— and do not let her see you 
watching her so anxiously, Ellen. Bless me, it is 
enough to frighten her. Speak to her cheerfully, 
Alfred" he added, then approaching her himself he 
exclaimed with an air of gaiety " So ! Mother, 
grand-papa won't give you a furlough 7 — ha ! 
ha ! — this is enforcing discipline with a ven- 
geance." 

" Get you gone, you monkey" said Mr. Thorn- 
ton, laughing, " and do not be raising a mutiny 
in Tny garrison.''^ 

" There !" cried Frank as a bright smile illu- 
mined the countenance of his mother, " I knew 
she was only annoyed by the endless geographical 
recitation." 

" She is never annoyed by any thing from which 
her children can derive benefit," rejoined Alfred, 
" and however wearisome you found it Frank, 



50 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

you should never forget the respect due to our 
excellent and affectionate grandfather." 

« He is the best grandfather on earth !" ex- 
claimed Frank, warmly, " and I love and respect 
him as much as you can do — butit was so tedious 
that I lost all patience." 

" It must have been as tedious for him to listen 
to what he already knew, as it was to you to rejjeat 
it," returned Alfred. 

" Perhaps so — but I was vexed at being ques- 
tioned as if I were a child like Ned, or Emma," 
said Francis. 

" And what do Ned and Emma learn which 
tve ought not to know ?" asked Alfred, " we ought 
surely to be acquainted with the geography of our 
own country.''^ 

" To be sure we had," replied Frank testily, 
" no gentleman would be ignorant of what is 
taught in every village Free School, and therefore 
I was displeased at being questioned, as if my 
knowledge on such points were doubtful." 

" But from your grandfather such questions 
could not com.e improperly, had you even arrived 
at maturity," said Alfred, " and for my own part, 
I think it very kind and condescending in him to 
interest himself so much in our progress and pur- 
suits." 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 51 

" Well, Alf, I suppose you are right," said 
Frank ingenuously. " It generally happens that 
you get the best side of the argument ; though I 
scarcely know how you can avoid it in disputing 
with we, since I am invariably sure to be in the 
wrong.'''' 

" Not so bad as that either," said Alfred, passing 
his arm affectionately within that of his brother, 
" you are sometimes wrong, to be sure, and I won- 
der who is not ?" 

" Why you are not, and Ellen is not," rejoined 
Frank, " whereas I am perpetually blundering into 
some misdemeanor or other." 

«« Well, young gentlemen," said Mr. Thornton 
looking back to them, " you seem to be deep in 
consultation, which I must beg leave to interrupt, 
just to remind you that unless you walk faster we 
shall not be home in time for dinner." 

The young gentlemen quickened their pace 
and leaving his brother Frank, now offered the 
support of his arm to his grandfather, and in this 
order they resumed their march through the town. 

On their return home they found Mrs. Thornton 
much refreshed by a walk in the garden, from 
whence she and Ellen were just returning, leaning 
each on an arm of Miss Katie. 



52 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 



" Have you had a pleasant walk my darling ?" 
said Mrs. Thornton, as little Emma ran into her 
arms on her entrance. 

" Oh a very pretty walk mamma, and grand- 
papa has been telling us such pretty stories about 
the war ! and a great many things," answered the 
little prattler as she climbed into her mother's lap. 

" And we have seen the house where Wash- 
ington lived when he was in Newport," said 
Edward as he took the hand his mother extended to 
him, " and we have seen the quarters of the Count 
Rochambeau, and the baron Viomenil and Count 
Segur, and a great many others, and the tomb of 
the great French Admiral who died and was buried 
here mamma." 

" And what was the name of that great man ?" 
asked Mrs. Thornton, smiling at the rapidity with 
which he was heaping heroes^ houses^ and tombsj 
together. 

" He was the Chevalier D'Ternay mamma, and 
his tomb is fixed outside the Episcopal Church 
wall, and does not look a bit like a tomb, it is so 
awkwardly put up, I think — and — and " 

"Stop ! — Stop, Edward ! not so fast, and not 
so lo2ul my child, if you have any mercy for Mrs. 
Guthrie's head and your mother's nerves," said 
Mrs. ThorntoUj interrupting him. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 53 

'« Indeed I have mammaj" said Edward, " I 
would not hurt you, or dear, kind Mrs. Guthrie's 
head, for any thing." 

'' I beheve you my dear," said the old lady ; 
but tell us in a lower voice, what wonders you 
have seen." 

" Alfred can tell it best, a great deal," replied 
Edward. 

" Nay, my son," cried Mrs. Thornton, <' let us 
hear it from yourself." 

" Grand-papa has pointed out all the public 
buildings mamma," said Edward, " and I counted 
thirteen places of public worship. Four for 
Baptists, two for Episcopalians, one for Congrega- 
tionalists, one for Moravians, one for Methodists, 
one for Unitarians, one for Roman Catholics, one 
for (Quakers, and one Jewish Synagogue — which 
makes thirteen, mamma." 

" And has Newport no public buildings besides 
churches ?" asked Mrs. Thornton. 

^' Yes ma'am but you will please ask Frank or 
Alfred about them," replied Edward. 

*' Well, Frank, what public buildings do you 
find besides the churches ?" 

" I will sit down by you, and go regularly 

through the business, mother," said Frank, draw- 

5* 



54 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

ing a chair beside her. " To begin then, ^verba- 
tim from Dr. Morse,'' as my grandfather said this 
morning, there is the State House, the form, situa- 
tion and architecture of which, give it a pleasing 
appearance. It stands sufficiently elevated, and a 
long wharf and paved parade lead up to it from 
the harbor — so far from the good doctor," said 
Frank, laughing, "and the rest I must manage for 
myself. Well then, the aforesaid State-House is 
ornamented with a cupola and furnished with a 
clock and bell. In the Council Chamber is a full 
length portrait of Washington from the pencil of 
Stuart, who, you know was a native of this State. 
On the south of the parade is a wall prettily 
ornamented with trees, at the foot of which is a 
fountain of excellent water. In Thames street 
there is a theatre and brick market, a fine 
building for the Custom House, and two elegant 
brick Banks. In Mills street there is a commo- 
dious edifice for the accommodation of the Free 
School, and opposite the Methodist Chapel is a 
Gaol, both the latter are of brick — and lastly there 
is the Asylum on Coaster's Harbor Island for the 
accommodation of the poor of Newport — a hand- 
some edifice of stone." 

<' Frank is very correct as far as he goes," ob- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 55 

served Alfred, " but he has omitted Redwood Li- 
brary, and St. John's Lodge. 

" The recollection of the gaol frightened them 
out of my mind," said Frank laughing, " so you 
may finish the task yourself." 

"Well then, mother," said Alfred, good natured- 
ly complying with his request, "having examined 
the State-House, we crossed the Mull, and found 
ourselves in Touro street, in which is situated the 
the Jewish Synagogue, a handsome brick building, 
where in the days of Newport's prosperity, many 
wealthy Jewish families were accustomed to wor- 
ship, but of whom my grand-father informed us, 
not an individual now remains in town, many 
having died, and the remainder being removed to 
other places. The Synagogue, the Street on which 
it stands, and the Jewish Burial Ground at the 
head of it, are kept in continual repair, by a lega- 
cy bequeathed the town for the purpose, by a Mr. 
Touro, a wealthy merchant of Boston, who was a 
native and formerly a resident of Newport, and 
retained to his latest moment an affectionate at- 
tachment to his birth-place and the temple where 
his father worshipped. In honour of him, the 
street has since been called Touro-street. Quit- 
ting the Jewish Burial Ground, we turned into 



56 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Bellevue street, which conducts to the Bellevue- 
hotel, and in which the pubhc Library is situated. 
<• On what days, sir," asked Alfred, interrupting 
his own narrative, and turning to his grand-fa- 
ther, "on what days did you say that we could ob- 
tain admittance to the Redwood Library ?'* 

" On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday after- 
noons, when the librarian attends to receive and 
deliver books," replied Mr. Thornton. 

" You will go with us, mother T asked Frank 
in a tone of entreaty. 

<< Certainly, if you wish it, my son," replied 
Mrs. Thornton. 

" The Redwood Library," resumed Alfred, " is 
an elegant building, much admired by architects. 
It was built and endowed by the munificence of a 
Mr. Abraham Redwood, in the year of our Lord 
1747 ; from him it derives its name, and his por- 
trait adorns its walls. The Redwood Library did 
not escape the ravages of war ; my grand-father 
tells us that most of the books were destroyed, or 
carried off by the British. A few, however, were 
left, and as they had spared the building, it was 
afterwards repaired and its shelves replenished by 
the literary gentlemen of Newport, whose inhabit- 
ants still derive profit and pleasure from the g^^xv- 



j'l 







m 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 57 

erosity of the public-spirited individual who en- 
dowed it ; and thus, my dear mother, ended my 
grand-father's account of Redwood Library. As 
we passed along Bellevue, he kindly pointed out 
the ground where the French army encamped 
while at Newport ; it lies eastward of the town. 
The clock then striking one, my grand-father in- 
terrupted our tiresome questions, by reminding us 
that it was his dinner-time, and proposing to re- 
turn home." 

" And here we are, aunt Katie," said the lively 
Frank, exceedingly well disposed to do justice to 
the very best things in Mrs. Guthrie's hill of far e^ 
" for to say truth, I am as Ned this morning de- 
clared himself to be, monstrous hungry ^^ 

" To dinner then P' exclaimed his grand-father, 
and be assured you cannot please Mrs. Guthrie 
better than by partaking heartily of the dishes she 
serves up ; and after dinner, as your mother is 
better, I think we may venture to permit her walk- 
ing to Easton's Beach. 

" Before dinner was over, however, thick and 
heavy clouds began to darken the atmosphere ; 
but so merry, and so well-employed, were the little 
party, that they observed not the gathering storm, 
until startled by a vivid flash of lightning; it was 



58 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

quickly followed by the majestic sound of distant 
thunder, which continued to roll nearer and nearer, 
in long and reiterated peals, accompanied by a heavy 
shower of rain. Cato closed the sashes, and the fa- 
mily quietly finished their repast ; but the storm 
continued so late that their intended excursion 
was postponed, and they were compelled to pass 
the remainder of the day within doors. 



W\ I 



CHAPTER III. 

Easton's Beach — Mr. Thornton's account of the "Sea-bird" — • 
Legend of the " Ghost " — Return home — Little Edward in mis- 
chief — &c. &c. 

The ensuing morning proving favorable for the 
meditated visit to the Beach, the young people, as 
soon as breakfast was over, equipped themselves 
for the excursion. But, as a walk of a mile was 
judged too fatiguing for Mrs. Thornton and her 
little girl, Miss Katie's low chaise was ordered for 
their accommodation, and as that lady was un- 
accustomed to the management of a horse, 
Mr. Thornton took a seat in it beside her. 
Miss Katie, like most of the Newport la- 
dies, was in the habit of walking in almost 
any weather, and preferred it to riding. She 
therefore equipped herself to accompany the pedes- 
trians of the party, in a close habit and thick 
shoes, the former to shield her from the sea-breezes 
and the spray, and the latter to protect her from 
the dampness of the sands, on which she was to 



60 VISIT TO ORAND-PAPA. 

walk. Taking then the arm of Alfred and the 
hand of little Edward, and giving Frank the care 
of her parasol, she set off, previously to the de- 
parture of her sister-in-law and her father, who 
she knew might easily overtake them, though 
drawn only by old Chesnut, her own horse, a la- 
zier or more pelted animal than whom, had never 
enjoyed a comfortable old age. Easton's Beach 
beins: the favourite resort of all the 'fashionables* 
of Newport, the young strangers had wished much 
to visit it. The young gentlemen were also de- 
sirous of enjoying a plunge in the surf, in which, 
provided there were no company on the Beach, 
they were now to be indulged ; it having been 
arranged, that on their arrival at the Beach, Miss 
Katie should take her father's place and the guid- 
ance of her own comfortable vehicle, through the 
pleasant rural valley, called " Green End", leaving 
Mr. Thornton to return with his grand-sons, after 
they had bathed. The young gentlemen departed 
with Miss Katie, in high spirits, anticipating much 
pleasure from the conversation of that lady, which 
was not only instructive but highly amusing ; as, 
to an inexhaustible fund of quiet humor, she 
had, by extensive reading and observation, added 
a great share of information and a rich stock of 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 61 

anecdote. She was moreover well versed in the 
traditions of her native island, and acquainted 
with the history and character of its most distin- 
guished men. In passing up Mill-street, she pointed 
out the house which had been the residence of the 
celebrated General Greene, who was a native of 
this State, and for many years a resident of New- 
port. Opposite the mansion stands the "Old 
Tower," and little Edward pleaded earnestly for 
leave to stop and examine it, but, fearing they 
should be too late on the Beach, Katie objected. 

Arrived on the "Beach," it was with a mingled 
sensation of pleasure and awe, that the young peo- 
ple gazed about them. There was such refresh- 
ing sweetness in the pure sea-breeze, — so muchsyl- 
van beauty in the smiling landscape of " Green 
End," which skirts Easton's "Pond" on the 
north ; and the beautiful sheet of water in which 
it lay reflected ; such grandeur and sublimity in 
the view of the vast and mighty ocean, whose ma- 
jestic billows broke in foam beneath their feet, — 
that Mrs. Thornton quitted the chaise, in order to 
enjoy the scene more perfectly by rambling on the 
open shore. So overwhelming to their unaccus- 
tomed ears was the tremendous roar of the surf, 
that it was some moments before any one attempt- 

6 



62 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

ed to speak, supposing it impossible, perhaps, to 
make their voices heard. At length, pulling the 
sleeve of his aunt, Frank pointed to the breakers, 
and looked with eager inquiry in her face. 

" Well !" cried Miss Katie, unused to converse 
in dumb-show, and misinterpreting his gestures, 
" Well," she said in her shrillest tone, •' they are 
hreakers.^^ 

" Aye," rejoined Frank, finding to his great re- 
lief, that it was indeed possible to converse, " Aye, 
but those black spots on the water ?" 

" Gullsj I suppose," replied his laughing aunt, 
" but / see nothing but a knot of sea-weed yonder." 

" What are they, sir," enquired Alfred, as his 
eye followed the direction indicated by his broth- 
er's finger, '' those two black things in the water?" 

" If there were fifty black things there', my 
child, my old eyes could discern nothing, while 
the sun blazes so dazzlingly on the sea," said Mr. 
Thornton, after vainly endeavoring to obtain a 
view of the objects pointed out. 

" If it were possible for boats to be there, sir," 
said Frank, " I should say they were boats." 

" And boats undoubtedly they are," replied his 
grand-father. 

"What ! among those terrific breakers, sir," de- 
manded Frank in amazement. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 63 

^' There are objects moving around them in the 
surf, which appear to be the heads of people," ob- 
served Alfred. 

" Nothing more probable, Mr. Alfred," rejoined 
Mr. Thornton, " they are fishermen, undoubtedly, 
preparing to draw a line, and if so, we shall see 
the beach alive in an hour or two with the finny 
gentry." ' 

It will be a sight worth seeing, for such lands- 
men^ as we are," said Alfred. 

" Well, Ned, what are you thinking of, my little 
man," asked Frank, observing the little fellow 
seated on a stone, with one hand thrust into the 
bosom of his jacket, and apparently in deep 
thought. 

'' I was thinking, brother, of the pretty story 
Alfred read to me the other day," replied Edward 
as he took the hand Frank held out to him. 

" And what was the story about, my little fel- 
low," enquired Francis. 

'' Do you think, grand-papa," asked Edward, 
" Do you think it was on such a beach as this, sir, 
that— that— " 

" Why do you hesitate, my dear child?" asked 
Mr. Thornton, go on my dear, and speak out 
whatever you were going to say." 



Gi VISITTOGRAND-PArA. 

" I was only going to ask you, sir, if it was on 
such a beach as this, that the King of England sat, 
when he scolded his great lords?" — "I mean, sir," 
said Edward correcting himself, " I mean when 
he commanded the sea not to wet his feet ?" 

" Yes, my dear, I do think it was on some such 
beach as this," answered Mr. Thornton, '' but fin- 
ish the story, Ned ; did the sea obey him ?" 

" Oh no, grand-papa ! how could it ?" said Ed- 
ward, encouraged by his grand-father's approving 
smile, " no, indeed, sir ; it only came on, one 
great wave after another, and washed over his 
feet, as these do over mine. So he found he could 
not do all the great things his foolish lords 
told him ; for they were wicked and told him a 
great many falsehoods. And that king would nev- 
er wear his crown any more after that, and Alfred 
told me, that his name was Canute." 

" You have told the story very well for a little 
fellow, and are a good boy to remember it," said 
his grand-papa in an approving tone. 

" But, grand-father, that king must have been 
a great fool to think the waves would care a fig 
for what he said," cried little Emma. 

" He was a wise man, and expected no such 
thing, my dear j" replied Mr. Thornton, who de- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 65 

lighted in conversing familiarly with his children. 
*' King Canute wished to convince his courtiers, 
that he was not to be imposed upon by their spe- 
cious flattery. He wished also to show them the 
folly and wickedness of ascribing to any mere man 
the attributes of the almighty and most high God; 
and he could not have chosen a better method of 
doing this. J seldom walk over these sands my- 
self, Edward," continued Mr. Thornton, "without 
recollecting this anecdote of Canute. A scene like 
this is so calculated to impress the mind with a 
sense of the might and majesty of the King of 
Kings, that the proudest earthly Potentate cannot 
but feel his own insignificance, and be sensible 
what a poor vain mockery is all human great- 
ness ;" a silence of some moments followed this 
remark, which Mr. Thornton himself interrupted 
by exclaiming, as he pointed with his cane, "You 
are right, Mr. Frank, there are the boats moving 
off with the seine suspended between them." 

"How can you tell, dear grand-papa?" cried 
Emma, " I see no seine." 

" Do you not see those black specks on the 
water, that look like a string of beads, my dear ?" 
asked Mr. Thornton, lifting the little girl in his 
arms ; " yonder they lie beyond the breakers." 



C6 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

'' Oh yes, I see them now," cried Emma," are 
those specks fishes ?" 

"No, my child, they are pieces of cork fastened 
to the edge of the net, to make it float, or keep it 
up on the surface of the water," repUed her grand- 
father, adding, " they will proceed as far as yon- 
der promontory, before they attempt to enclose the 
fishes ; so you will have time for bathing before 
they return, if the ladies depart immediately. 
" Come, my daughters, let us get rid of you at 
once," he continued, "you will scarcely have time 
for your proposed ride, now, before dinner ;" and 
so saying, he assisted Mrs. Thornton and her 
daughters to the carriage, into which, after pat- 
ting and caressing old Chesnut, Miss Katie followed. 

" I declare, aunt Katie, I almost thought you 
were going to kiss him," cried the merry Frank, 
" and I believe Chesnut expected it too, for he 
seemed to put up his brown cheek toward you." 

"Out, you monkey !" cried Miss Katie gaily, or 
I will ride over you, just to show you what my 
faithful Chesnut can do, to prove his friendship 
and fidelity. Away with you," she added, as she 
received the reins from her father, when, as if he 
had understood her encomiums and her threat, 
old Chesnut arched his glossy neck, and sprung 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 67 

forward with an alertness that greatly alarmed the 
timid Mrs. Thornton, and extremely diverted Miss 
Katie, whose merry laughter rang on the air some 
moments after she had driven away. 

"Old Chesnut knows the hand that guides him 
now," said Mr. Thornton, looking after them. 
"Look ye there, boys," he added laughing, the 
lazy old animal came down with me, after another 
fashion." 

"Aunt Katie knows how to drive in capital 
style," observed little Ned. 

" And do not /, you rogue ?" asked Mr. Thorn- 
ton, laying his cane playfully over the shoulder of 
the little boy. 

"Oh yes, grand-papa, that is not the reason, 
he does not go as well with you, I dare say," said 
Edward, "but aunt Katie is so good to every 
thing, that every body loves her." 

"And does not every body love 7ne too, you 
monkey?" asked Mr. Thornton, laughing heartily 
at Edward's blundering attempt to apologize. 

" Yes indeed, grand-papa:" cried Edward blush- 
ing, I do not think that any body loves aunt Katie 
best^ but Chesnut and Phillis, and Nancy, and — " 

"Ay, and Cato, and all the rest," said Mr. Thorn- 
ton jocularly ; '-be honest, Ned." 



G8 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

*' Yes, Sir ; but I do think that Chesnut and 
Mrs. Guthrie, and PhilUs and Nancy, do love 
aunty best." 

" I will not quarrel with them, for their partial- 
ity, Edward, especially old Chesnut, for to say 
truth, I never gave myself much concern about 
him; and Miss Katie, as you say, is good to every 
thing;" replied Mr. Thornton. "But come," he 
added, " leave your clothes on these rocks, and 
into the water with you. In the mean time, I shall 
amuse myself with a stroll across the beach." 

" What a very little black speck the chaise looks 
like now," exclaimed Edward, straining his sight 
after the vehicle, which was now at the farther 
extremity of the beach, a mile off, " it looks no 
bigger than a fly." 

'' Take care ! do not tread on that poor little 
crab, Ned," cried Alfred. 

Edward stepped aside to avoid it, and his grand- 
father walked off, calling out to them as he turned 
away " take care that child does not venture too 
far into the surf, Alfred; and do not get yourself 
entangled in the sea-weed, master Ned." The 
boys now sprung into the water, and sported gaily 
amongst the breakers, until Alfred, perceiving that 
his grandfather, weary of his walk, had seated 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 69 

himself on a stone to wait for them, recollected 
the possibility of his finding the hot sun uncom- 
fortablcj and immediately hurried his companions 
out of the water, when they again gathered round 
their grandfather. 

"If you are not tired," said the latter when they 
joined him, "I am inclined to gratify Edward, by 
awaiting the return of the fishermen." 

Alfred made no objection, though being of a 
slender constitution, he felt exceedingly fatigued; 
for he was too good-natured to deprive any one of 
an expected pleasure. He therefore seated himself 
under the projection of an overhanging rock, 
whose friendly shelter screened him from the fer- 
vid rays of the sultry sun, and patiently waited 
the return of the fishins: boats. 

" Do any of your vessels ever enter here, sir" 
asked Frank, as he stood gazing on the breakers, 
that were tumbling madly in, and playing their 
wild gambols on the beach. 

" How ! among these breakers ! Frank," ex- 
claimed Mr. Thornton. 

"A sagacious inquiry that, Admiral'' cried Al- 
fred, laughing at the absurdity of the question, as 
he sat wringing the salt-water from his hair. 

" I have however heard of one vessel that 



70 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

passed these breakers and rocks, and reached the 
shore in safety," said Mr. Thornton, "but she was 
guided by no human pilot." 

" You alkide to the vessel called the Sea-bird," 
exclaimed Alfred, raising himself from his reclining 
position ; " aunt Katie told us the marvellous le- 
gend of the Sea-bird, as we came hither, by way 
of explaining an adventure of old Cato's, which 
he related to us this morning. The poor fellow 
insists that he once saw a ghost and heard her 
sing her sad song here amongst the billows." 

" You may laugh, if you please, Mr. Frank 
Thornton," said his grandfather with mock gra- 
vity, " but wiser men than old Cato have been as 
much terrified as himself by this same musical 
apparition." 

"Are you serious, sir?" asked Frank, puzzled 
to ascertain whether he were in jest or earnest. 

" Is it a laughing matter, Master Frank, that 
the ghost of a drowned woman should find it the 
labor of half a century to lull her drowned child 
to sleep ?" exclaimed his grand-father, " or is it 
surprising that worthy Cato and many an honest 
fisherman, and farmer beside, should have been 
terrified at actually beholding this renowned ghost 
in propria j^ersona ?" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 71 

"And is it possible that any one in these days, 
beside our old Cato, can be so weakly supersti- 
tious ?" demanded Frank in surprise. 

" Ay, sir, as surely as you are now on Easton's 
beach," replied Mr. Thornton; "ah!" continued 
he laughing, "well do I remember the day of 
poor Cato's misadventure. He had been sent, 
about sunset to the beach for sand, which in those 
days all neat house-wives used to sprinkle on their 
milk-white floors; (for very few were then so ex- 
travagant, as to carpet their houses) Cato had been 
sent hither for sand ; but, poor fellow ! he returned 
without it. I shall never forget the ashy hue of 
his complexion, or the chattering of his great 
teeth, as he rushed into the house, and even into 
the parlor in his terror, where crouching himself 
down close beside my father, he informed us that 
he had been pursued by the ghost of the drowned 
lady with her child in her arms, whom he fancied 
he had oflended by interrupting her song." 

" Did you not laugh a great deal at old Cato for 
believing in ghosts, grand-papa?" 

" Not then^ certainly, Edward, for we pitied the 
terror of the poor boy, which was as great as if 
there had really been a cause for it, ' replied the 
old gentleman, "but we often afterwards endea- 



72 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

vored to convince him of the folly of his super- 
stitious fears : in spite of reason and of ridicule 
however, he persists in believing the whole to be 
a reality. But Cato, unfortunately, is not the only 
person whose belief in this musical apparition is 
as fixed as their religious creed. There is a far- 
mer, a very worthy though ignorant man, who 
supplies my family with milk and butter. Yon- 
der is his house," added Mr. Thornton, pointing 
it out; ''this honest man^has often told me stories 
of this same ghost." 

" I should like to hear the superstitious old man 
tell the story," observed Alfred. 

" I should like much better to meet the appari- 
tion herself," said Frank, "but may we not suppose 
the whole story of the Sea-bird a fiction ? or that 
the ship herself was a phantom, like the famous 
«' Flying Dutchman ?" 

«' I should find it very difiicult to think so," an- 
swered Mr. Thornton, "because we have the 
concurring testimony of many respectable people 
who came hither and witnessed the fact. My 
father was one of them, and some are yet living 
who saw it." 

"Bless me, sir! I listened to the whole story 
as to a fable," said Frank. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 73 

*'The fable is ti fact, sir," rejoined his grand- 
father, " the vessel was discovered early on a fine 
morning, by the farmers and fishermen of yonder 
hamlet," pointing to a cluster of humble dwellings 
on the bank. " She was standing m, with all her 
sails spread and colors fiynig. Astonished at so 
unusual a spectacle, and expecting every moment 
to see her dashed to pieces on the rocks, the peo- 
ple gathered on the beach to wonder at the mad- 
ness of her crew, and await her supposed inevi- 
table destruction. She, however, glided in and 
out between the hidden rocks and boisterous 
breakers in perfect safety, and struck her keel 
into the soft sands without sustaining the slightest 
injury." 

''Wonderful!" exclaimed Francis, "and is it 
true that no one was on board her ?" 

" Not a living thing, except a dog, which was 
sitting composedly on deck. Coffee was however 
boiling at the fire and every thing prepared for the 
breakfast of her crew." 

" Had there been no storm on the coast, sir ?" 
inquired Alfred. 

" None at all ; and the vessel was perfectly un- 
injured," answered Mr, Thornton ; but it is sup- 
posed, that, finding themselves unexpectedly very 

7 



74 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

near the breakers, through the carelessness of the 
helmsman^ the crew abandoned the vessel in 
alarm, and attempted to escape in boats, when, 
strange to say, the vessel reached shore in safety, 
and the boats were lost." 

<' It is very surprising !" observed Alfred. 

" Not more strange than true, young men, as 
has been testified by several respectable witnesses," 
replied Mr. Thornton, " but yonder are the fisher- 
men with their booty ; they will be ashore in a 
moment." Rising as he spoke, he descended 
from the rocks to the sands, followed by all his 
young companions. In a few moments after, the 
fishermen beached their boats, and the seine was 
drawn to land filled with its struggling captives. 

" How they shine !" cried Edward, bounding 
about in childish glee, as thousands of the inha- 
bitants of the deep floundered on the beach, some 
of them in their dying agonies, leaping high in 
the air, their silvery sides glittering with the re- 
flected beams of the noon-tide sun. 

" If we did not know they were suflering so 
much, this would be a much more agreeable and 
amusing sight, Edward," observed Alfred. 

<'Poor little things !" cried Edward, with sudden- 
ly changed feelings, "I should like to throw some 
of them back to their homey the sea, again." 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 75 

" A loud shout from the fishermen now drew 
their attention to a shark, which had been in- 
closed in the net along with the fish, on which he 
had doubtless intended to resfale himself. The 
young Thorntons ran eagerly to obtain a view of 
the hideous creature, which, though a young one, 
was a novelty to them. It was almost immme- 
diateiy dispatched by the oars and clubs of the 
fishermen. 

*' Mr. Thornton now looking at his watch, was 
surprised to find it so late, and when his grand- 
sons had satisfied their curiosity, he summoned 
them around him, and immediately commenced 
his walk homeward. 

On their return home they found the ladies 
arrived before them, and Miss Katie engaged in 
teachinof Mrs. Thornton and Ellen the art of ma- 
kinor baskets and vases of shell work. It is a fa- 
vorite employment of many of the Newport ladies, 
and as the shells may be collected in abundance 
on many of the beaches, they are easily procured. 
Some of the vases and fancy articles manufac- 
tured of them, are very elegant. To prevent the 
ladies from being interrupted in their agreeable 
occupation, Mr. Thornton invited little Emma and 
her brothers to the Library, where he was accus- 



76 VISIT TO G RAND-PAPA. 

tomed to pass his own mornings in reading or 
writincr. His elder £frand-sons were of course at 
no loss for entertainment, and were both immed iately 
occupied with a book. Having therefore selected 
some engravings for the amusement of the younger 
children, he sate down to finish the perusal of a 
new and interesting publication, and soon became 
so deeply engaged, that the presence of his grand- 
children was entirely forgotten, until a buzz of 
whispering voices suddenly reminded him of the 
circumstance, by the disturbance it occasioned 
him. On looking up to ascertain its cause, he 
perceived that, not satisfied with the sketches he 
had given them, Edward was busily employed in 
exploring a case of drawers, where a choice col- 
lection of drawings, engravings, and painting im- 
plements, belonging to his daughter, were depo- 
sited, whose port-folios were now undergoing a 
strict and merciless examination. 

" What would you be at there?" demanded their 
grand-father, suppressing a momentary inclination 
to laughter, as he observed their busy looks and 
the industry with which they were pursuing their 
depredations amongst Miss Katie's treasures. Con- 
scious of being detected in what was not lawful, 
the children started like guilty things, and in their 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 77 

* 

eagerness to replace the drawings, overturned an 
elegant box of water-colors, and a camera ohscura. 

"If you have injured that box, you little rogue, 
you shall be punished," said Mr. Thornton, lay- 
ing aside his book, and advancing to ascertain the 
extent of the mischief, " who gave you leave to 
meddle with those drawers?" he sternly deman- 
ded, as he took Emma on one arm, and with his 
other hand snatched a port-folio from Edward. 

" No one, sir ;" replied the abashed culprit, step- 
ping back with both hands thrust into his pockets, 
and looking ruefully at the scattered papers and 
colors ; "and I did not mean to do any mischief 
at all." 

"You have broken a glass of the camera-ob- 
scura, however," said Alfred, who had risen to 
assist in remedying the accident. 

"If the mad-cap have not injured the drawing- 
box, it will be fortunate," said Mr. Thornton, 
adding, " Hark'ye ! Mr. Ned Thornton, if you 
Tnust be in mischief, let your depredations be con- 
fined to my property. With Miss Katie's, no one 
shall presume to meddle. She is a little particu- 
lar on such points, as she has a good right to be 
on all or any, and I tell you once more, that her 
property shall not be molested. Come hither. 



78 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

sirrah-rogue ! and replace the colors in the box, 
and the box in the drawer, and let me catch you 
at such tricks again, if you dare." Edward ob- 
eyed, very much grieved, for he saw that his 
grand-father was seriously displeased. To his 
great joy he, however, found, that all the mischief 
he had done, might be repaired, except the unfor- 
tunate earner a-ohscura^ which was really broken. 
T/m^, Mr. Thornton said, was of little consequence, 
as it was his own, and a new glass might be easily 
procured, "but once more I must tell you, master 
Edward, that I forbid your tampering with any 
property of Miss Katie's. It is a law in my 
house, sir, that whatever belongs to Aer, is sacred." 

"How strange, grand-papa, that you are so 
much more careful of aunt Katie's things than 
your own," said Edward, beginning to recover 
from his fright, "and she is so good-natured, that 
I do not believe she would have scolded if I had 
spoiled the box, and all the rest." 

" No, sir, she never scolds, and she is alicays 
good-natured ; and that is the very reason I will 
have nothing done to vex her. But go sir," added 
Mr. Thornton, "you are no gentleman, since you 
are not to be trusted. So away with you, out of 
llie room." 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 79 

" Then /must go too, for I was as bad as Ned. 
/helped him pull out the things," said little Em- 
ma, bursting into tears, as she sprung off her 
grand-father's knee, and I have not behaved like a 
gentleman either." 

" You act like a lady, however, in acknowledg- 
ing your share of the mischief, my little girl," re- 
plied her grand-father, smiling. 

" But it was I that put it into your head," cried 
Edward, pushing her back into the room, "you 
never thought of searching the drawers till I 
asked you," he added, shutting the door hastily, 
to conceal the tears that were standing in his eyes. 
" You may come back again," said Mr. Thornton, 
opening the door again, "you are too generous, I 
see, to let Emma be censured for your faults, and 
in this, at least, you have acted like a gentleman. 
I now will believe that you would not have had 
the meanness to meddle with what you had no 
right to touch, had you reflected a moment. You 
will be more cautious in future, and now we will 
be friends again." 

Edward took the hand which his grand-father 
extended in token of forgiveness, and wiping the 
tears from his face with the back of his hand, re- 
turned to the library ; after two or three ineffec- 



80 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

tual efforts to speak, he at last said. " You are very 
good, sir, to forgive me." 

" But I have forgiven yon, and so we must not 
think or say any thing more about it," returned 
Mr. Thornton, adding, " you may look for a book, 
or, stay, you may turn over the drawings in Miss 
Katie's album. I may venture to intrust you with 
it nowj I think." 

Thanking his grand-father for the indulgence, 
Edward seated himself, and remained very quiet 
the rest of the mornins:. Mr. Thornton was soon 
after called away to receive the visit of a friend, 
when the great delight afforded Edward by some 
of the drawings in his aunt's album, attracted the 
attention of his brothers. 

" Oh, if sister Ellen could only paint like that^ 
cried Edward. 

" Surely I know that paint,ing," exclaimed Al- 
fred. 

" You are not mistaken, brother," said Frank, 
" look at those initials below. " 

" It is indeed then my father's drawing, said 
Alfred. 

" My father ! Is it papa's drawing?" cried little 
Emma, squeezing her little curly head between 
those of her brothers', to gaze at it. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 81 

"And those lines too beneath the picture, that 
writing is papa's also," cried Frank ; and with 
agitated eagerness added, " I am glad my grand- 
father is absent, for we may read them now ; and 
I will copy them." 

"But the hand resembles aunt Katie's so much, 
I am rather doubtful," said Alfred ; " see, yonder 
she goes to the garden ; give me the book, Frank. 
I will know whose lines they are," and seizing 
the book, he hastened with it to the garden. He 
returned almost immediately, and Miss Katie again 
rejoined her sister, for whom she had been gather- 
ing a bouquet. "The lines are my father's, Frank, 
and were written at the age of fourteen," said Al- 
fred, " aunt Katie not only permits us to copy 
them, but any others we like ;" with these words 
Alfred seized a pen and hastily transcribed the 
following 

LINES. 

" Dear Isle of my birth, sweetest gem of the sea, 

Now summer revisits tiiy shore ; 
My heart's best afTections turn fondly to thee ! 

Oh, when shall I greet thee once more ] 

Here the woodlands are verdant, the waters are bright. 
The flowrets their beauties display ; 



82 VISIT TO GRAND-PA.PA. 

But no spot on this earth is so fair to my sight 
As my own native Isle, far away. 

! mine be that Island, whose verdant glades peep 
Between its rocks rugged and gray. 

And mine be those rude rocks, wild, broken, and steep, 
That rise o'er the white ocean spray. 

1 love all its wildness, more dearly by far; 

Its sea-beaten shores are m.ore dear, 
Than the regular grove, or the formal parterre, ' 
And the sameness of scenery here. 

Oh ! let me once more meet the glance of those eyes, 

That beam'd with affection on me ; 
Once more clasp the hand of true friendship in mine, 

And as blessM as in infancy be. 

And then not a wisii to forsake thee once more, 

In my tranquillized breast shall be found ; 
The dear rugged rocks that encircle thy shore I 

All my wand'rings and wishes shall bound. 

For all that is dearest and loveliest to me. 

The scenes and the friends 1 love best ; 
All I love — all who love me, are center'd in thee, 

And with them cau I only be blest " 

''How very strong his attachment to his native 
island appears to have been," exclaimed Frank, 
as his brother finished writing. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 83 

m 

" Yes, and how affectionately my father and 
aunt Katie loved each other," returned Alfred, as 
he placed in his hand some verses written on a 
loose piece of paper. " You must copy them now, 
Frank, while we have an opportunity." 

'•Aunt Katie poetizes too, then," asked Francis. 

" Not now," returned Alfred, " she told me that 
she was once infected with the rhyming-mania, 
but my father perceiving the folly of scribbling 
nonsense as Aunt Katie calls it, cured her of it 
by the forced dint of ridicule." 

" That was a queer word you used just now 
brother," said Edward, " pray what is a writing 
mmiia V 

''^Mania means madness, Eddie," replied Alfred, 
" but do not shake the table so, I shall never have 
done copying this if you do." 

" I have little judgement in such matters Alfred," 
said Frank ; " but these verses breathe so much 
affection for my father that I cannot help liking 
them, if they are noiisense^^^ and without waiting 
a reply, he spread his paper and instantly began 
copying the piece entitled : — 



84 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

# 

STANZAS, 

ADDRESSED TO AN ABSENT BROTHER. 

The moment of trial has pass'd — we have parted,' 

To meet perhaps never again — 
And I o'er the mem'ry of pleasures departed 

Breathe the sighs of my sorrow in vain. 

For thou art afar, and tear-drops of sorrow- 
On my cheek disregarded may shine — 

And the sighs of my heart are too distant to borrow 
Sympathetic responses from thine. 

Yet thou too wilt sigh o'er the fond recollection 

Of friends thou hast left far behind — 
Nor will distance or time ever chill that affection, 

Which so long round thy heart has entwin'd. — 

Our (lays of delight flew on pinions of gladness, 

They were days too delicious to last — 
They are fled and our pleasure is chang'd into sadness 

And fruitless regret for the past. 

But ne'er till the heart of thy Sister shall moulder, 
Though kingdoms and oceans should part — 

Shall our long cherish'd fervent affection wax colder, 
Or thou be less dear to my heart. 

And though childhood is pass'd and those pleasures are over, 
Which thy presence has render'd so dear — 

Yet around them fond memory delighted shall hover, 
And Fancy still dream thou art here. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 85 

And although o'er the hour which obhg'd us to sever 

The tear-drops of sorrow fall fast — 
We will cherish this hope " that we part not forever, 

But shall be re-united at last." 

Scarcely had Frank finished copying the fore- 
^going when they were summoned to the drawing- 
room to be presented to Colonel Hardy and his lady, 
intimate friends of Mr. Thornton and his daughter, 
whOj with many other ladies and gentlemen of New- 
port had called on Mrs. Thornton. Col. Hardy 
as Commandant of the Troops at this station 
resided at Fort Wolcott, which is situated on a 
beautiful island in the centre of Newport Harbor. 
When urged to stay to dinner, the Col. and Mrs. 
Hardy consented on condition that the Thornton 
family should in the afternoon accompany them 
back to Fort Wolcott, from whence they were to 
be conducted to Brenton's Point, to view the new- 
works at Fort Adams, which are so extensive that 
though five or six years have already been em- 
ployed on them, it is expected that a much longer 
time will be required before they are completed. 
Mrs. Thornton being quite unequal to such an 
excursion, the proposal was declined by the ladies, 
but accepted on the part of the gentlemen, who, 
as soon as the cloth was removed departed, antici- 

8 



86 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

pating- much gratification. Miss Thornton, how- 
ever, permitted not their departure until she had 
obtained from the Col. and Mrs. Hardy, the pro- 
mise of passing the next day with her, when she 
proposed that the whole party should visit " Mal- 
bone's Garden." Mr. Thornton and his grand- 
sons took tea with Mrs. Hardy at Fort Wolcott, 
and returned to town by moon-light, much pleased 
and not a little fatigued by their rambles. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Visit to the old Tower— the "Point" — Pirates — Fort Greene — 
• Malbone's Villa — 'Tonomy Hill — Kendall's Mills — Purgatory — 
Legend of the Squaw, and the *' Lover's Leap" — Paradise. 

Scarcely had the family of Mr. Thornton risen 
from the breakfast-table next morning, when, true 
to his engagement. Col. Hardy with his lady and 
their two sons, made their appearance. While 
waiting for the carriages which Cato was imme- 
diately ordered to procure, the Colonel proposed 
that the whole party should adjourn to the old 
Tower, which was situated within a few rods of 
Mr. Thornton's house. Hats and shawls were 
immediately put in requisition, and the party soon 
found themselves at the inclosure on which this 
sino^ular ruin stands. The orate was locked but 
the proprietor of the estate to which it belongs, 
politely sent a servant to admit them. On ap- 
proaching it, little Edward observed that it greatly 
resembled one of the old watch-towers which 



88 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

sister Ellen had lately drawn in a sketch of some 
part of Scotland. 

The old Tower of Newport, of which for the 
gratification of our young readers we have ob- 
tained a sketch, is a circular building of stone, 
supported by eight round pillars, between which, 
are the same number of regularly formed arches. 
Above these arches is an entire circular wall of 
about a foot and a half in thickness, perforated 
on three sides only, by narrow loop-holes, namely, 
on the north, the west, and the south ; — on the 
east there is no such opening — but just above 
the arches on that side are the vestiges of a fire- 
place which except that the hearth is wanting is 
still entire. Beneath this fire-place, and above the 
arches, there has evidently once been a floor, the 
places where timbers that supported it were mor- 
tised into the wall being distinctly visible. It 
probably had a roof — although it has now none 
other than " the o'er-arching canopy of heaven," 
from which circumstance Frank Thornton com- 
pared it to the druidical temples of Britain. 

" The moon looked so beautiful last niofht, 
peeping through these arches as it rose, that I 
wished very much to come here," said Ellen to 
Mrs. Hardy, whose affability and sweetness had 
won her heart. 



fe=< 






a 
^ 

^ 



^ 




.fte 



N 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 89 

" Upon my word, Miss Ellen, I am very glad 
that you had not the temerity to venture on so 
rash an experiment!" observed Col. Hardy, with 
well-acted solemnity. 

" Why would it have been rash, sir ?" inquired 
Ellen, in surprise. 

" Bless my stars ! young lady ! have you lived 
three whole days in Newport and never been in- 
formed that the old Tower is haunted V 

''And what haunts it, sir?" asked little Edward, 
whom the Colonel was leading by the hand ; " my 
mamma says there is no such things as ghosts." 

" I do not consider myself qualified, my dear 
to discuss these abstruse points," replied the officer, 
laughing, " and so I must refer you to Miss Katie, 
who I am happy to say is possessed of great ' le- 
gendary lore.' How say you, madam," he added, 
bowing to that lady as he repeated Edward's 
question. «' What haunts the old Tower ?" 

" No less a personage than the great Author of 
evil himself, as I was told in my childhood," replied 
Miss Thornton. 

'^ And is not even this desolate ruin exempt from 
the influence of the great enemy of mankind !" 
exclaimed the Colonel. " How happy would it be 
for us all, if his malign influence were confined 

8* 



90 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

within its lonely and circumscribed limits," he 
added ; " but — mercy on us !" continued he in 
aiTected alarm, " here we are discussing the sub- 
ject in the very precincts of his abode ! What 
now, master Edward, if he should pounce upon 
us from behind one of these pillars here ! But you 
did not finish the story. Miss Thornton." 

^' It is soon told, and the children will laugh at 
aunt Katie," she replied, " when I acknowledge 
that I used to believe the story so implicitly that 
the world's wealth would not have bribed me to run 
three times in succession around the ruin." 

'' Not run three times round it, aunty ?" cried 
Edward. " What hurt would it do ?" 

'' Some terrible penalty would have been incur- 
red by the perpetration of so great an atrocity^^^ 
said Mrs. Hardy ironically. 

" Terrible indeed, madam," answered the laugh- 
inof Miss Thornton : " for we were told that the 
person who should presume to make so rash an 
experiment would be carried off bodily, by the 
great adversary in person." 

" I'll warrant you never made the experiment, 
madam," cried the merry Colonel. 

" No indeed," returned Miss Katie. "So deeply 
had my mind been imbued with superstition, by 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 91 

listening to the ghost stories of my old nurse, that 
I would not have adventured it for the world." 

"How say you, master Ned," cried the Colonel, 
when the laugh occasioned by Miss Katie's con- 
fession had subsided. " Would you dare try it ?" 

"I should not be afraid, sir," replied Edward, 
" for I do not think there is any more harm in 
running round an old ruin than round an old post 
• — and I am told I should fear nothing but doing: a 
wrong action." 

" You are a sensible little fellow, and will make 
a brave man some day," observed the Colonel, 
pleased with his manly reply. 

" More fortunate than your aunt, and many 
others, you have had no superstitious nurse to 
make a coward of a good boy." 

" Oh, but I am not a good boy, sir," said Ed- 
ward recollecting his fault of the preceding day, 
and ashamed of receiving praises he did not de- 
serve. " I did not behave like a gentleman 
yesterday, sir — and offended grand-papa, by med- 
dling with aunt Katie's drawings without leave." 

" If you have been guilty of a fault my little 
fellow, you have acknowledged it like a man," 
rejoined Col. Hardy. " I like your ingenuous 
conduct Mr. Edward, and therefore, since you are 



92 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

not afraid of ghosts and hobgoblins I will chal- 
lenge you to a race. Come, sir," continued the hu- 
morous officer, " three times round the old Tower, 
if you dare, and ' the gobUn take the hind -most.' " 

" Delighted with a proposal so unexpected, 
Edward sprung forward, and the Colonel followed, 
but being corpulent and heavy the officer was 
obliged to yield the palm of victory to his young 
competitor — and at the conclusion of their race 
declared that he had not been so exhausted with 
fatigue since General La Fayette left the country. 
When they rejoined their companions they found 
Mr. Thornton engaged in conversation with a 
gentleman who had joined him during their ab- 
sence. They were deep in discussion relative to 
the purpose for which this singular pile had been 
erected, and in reply to some observation of the 
stranger : 

" I do not agree with you, sir," said Mr. Thorn- 
ton, " for I have myself heard an aged and most 
respectable gentleman of this town declare that he 
recollected perfectly, when a loooden-mill erected 
on the top of this tower was employed in grinding 
corn — A loooden mill, sir." 

" Well, sir — this rather favors^ than disproves 
my theory," said the gentleman, " a wooden wind- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 93 

mill erected on the top of this tower would have 
been as properly a wooden-wind-wm as if it had 
been erected on a high rock or any other eminenccj 
and may be considered as distinct from, though 
erected ujion the Tower. The latter was undoubt- 
edly in all respects the same tower it is now, 
before that mill was erected ; but as it aiforded a 
favorable elevation the builders wisely availed 
themselves of it. But that any man in his senses 
should go to the trouble and expense of building 
such a thing as this, purposely and solely for the 
foundation of a mill, when a few rough large stones 
put together rudely would have answered the pur- 
pose as well, I can never be persuaded to believe. 
Besides sir, you forget that at the early period 
when this tower was reared, the constant perils 
to which our ancestors were exposed from the 
perfidy of their Indian neighbors were so great; that 
while they labored with one hand they carried 
their weapons in the other — and is it probable — 
is it even possible that in such circumstances, 
they could have spared time and wasted their 
labor on such a thing as this, merely for the 
foundation of a mill ? What an unmeaning and 
useless labor ! What a waste of time and skill !" 
" You think then that it was intended for a cit- 
adel 7" asked Mr. Hardy. 



94 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" Such is the avowed opinion of a naval officer 
of my acquaintance," said the stranger ; <' but 
notwitlistanding those embrasures on which his 
opinion was chiefly founded, I have doubts on the 
subject. No place intended as a citadel would I 
apprehend have been left open on all sides like 
this, when it might have been enclosed entirely 
with much less care and labor, than it must have 
cost to form these arches and pillars with so much 
regularity ; for if there was once a floor, as it ap- 
pears evident, it must have been of %vood^ and 
nothing could be easier than for an enemy to set it 
on fire." 

" Provided they were suffered to enter beneath 
it, you should add, sir," said Col. Hardy, "but 
what is more probable than that those loop-holes 
were intended for archers and sharp-shooters ?" 

"Why then are there only three of them and 
none on the east, when it is as easy of access there 
as elsewhere ?" demanded the gentleman. 

" The tower may have been higher," said the 
Colonel. " There ^nay have been another story, 
and another tier of loop-holes." 

Mr. Thornton smiled, and shook his head in- 
credulously. 

" We have no ground whatever for such a sup- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 95 

position," said the stranger. " The wall is very 
little broken at the top, and it could scarcely have 
preserved the evenness and equality of its height 
in its whole circumference had a whole story 
broken and fallen from it." 

" What then are we to make of it ?" asked the 
Colonel. 

" I confess that I could never form any plausible 
or satisfactory conjecture as to the purpose for 
which it was erected," replied the unknown gen- 
tleman. " But that it is no work of the aborigines, 
here is, what in my opinion amounts to positive 
proof," and he pointed with his cane to the fire- 
place on the east side. 

" Is there no mention of the Tower in the 
Town -Records ?" asked Col. Hardy. 

•* Yes, in the will of one Mr. Benedict Arnold, 
bearing date December 24th, 1677," replied Mr. 
Thornton. " By which among other legacies, he 
bequeathed the stone mill and the lot on which it 
stands (which then extended to Spring-street) to 
his daughter ' Gods-gift Arnold ;' but there is not 
any mention of, or allusion to it, that I can dis- 
cover, of an earlier date." 

" Then we are sure at least, that it was once a 
mill," said the colonel. 



96 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" I can never admit that it was huilt for one," 
observed the gentleman, still obstinately adhering 
to his own opinion. " "Why those arches so re- 
gularly formed? — or those pillars rounded with 
so much labor and exactitude ? — composed too of 
small stones, when large ones might as easily have 
been procured with less labor, and would have 
supplied their place equally well, if it were inten- 
ded merely for the base of a mill. Sir," he con- 
tinued, " the first settlers of our country had too 
little time to spare from the cultivation of the soil, 
the formation of their settlements, and the defend- 
ing themselves from the hostilities of the Indians, 
to throw away such labor on the architecture of 
wind-mills." 

" But the circumstance of its having been so 
long known by the name of the Stone-Mill, is a 
strong argument against your theory, sir," said 
Colonel Hardy. 

" It is an argument of no weight in my opinion, 
sir," persisted the unyielding stranger ;" '• it ob- 
tained the name from the wooden mill that was 
built on its top ; and a very good site it afforded 
for a mill ; but I think any one, after examining 
the work, must, from the great labor bestowed 
upon it, perceive the absurdity of the opinion, that 



t 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 97 

it was ever intended by its builders for the mere 
basis of a wind-mill;" and having so said, the 
stranger bowed with stiif formality and quitted 
the place. 

" Humph !" ejaculated the colonel, with a shrug, 
as he looked after him, 

'^ He that's convinc'd against his will, 
Is of the same opinion sliU." 

** But, whatever was the original destination of the 
old pile," he added, " I think this Mr. Arnold of 
yours, was to be envied such a treasure of a child 
as his daughter must have been, if deserving of her 
distinguished name." 

" Aye, a fine name ! I like it myself, and if Miss 
Katie were to be christened over again," said Mr. 
Thornton, looking affectionately towards his daugh- 
ter, who was walking with the ladies at a little 
distance, " I would call her " God's giftj'' for a 
good child is a God's gift indeed, sir, as I hope 
you will experience and thankfully acknowledge." 

The colonel thanked him, and accosting the 
young Thorntons, who, with his own sons now 
rejoined them, exclaimed, "Well, young gentle- 
men, what is the result of your inquiry ? "VYhat 

9 



98 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

do you find the circumference of this singular 
and most unaccountable ruin ?" 

" It is precisely eighty-one feet, sir," replied 
Frank. 

" If you have finished your investigation," said 
Mr. Thornton, "I believe it is time we returned. 
The ladies will be weary of waitmg." The party 
accordingly returned to the house, where the 
carriages were already in waiting to receive them. 
As they intended rambling cdl day about the Is- 
land, and knew not where tbey should find it 
most agreeable to dine, Cato had been directed 
to place refreshments in the carriages, that they 
might regale themselves when they pleased. 
Bread, cheese, lobsters, cold ham, tongues, olives, 
lemons and fruit, had therefore all been packed 
commodiously away by old Cato, who was well 
practised in providing for such pic-nic excursions, 
and the party set off in high spirits. Directing 
their course north-west-ward from the town, they 
proceeded immediately through that part of New- 
port called the " Point," which, although not con- 
sidered a genteel part of the town, has some plea- 
sant and airy streets, and many convenient dwel- 
lings. Previous to the revolutionary war this 
was a very busy and commercial part of the city. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 99 

There were situated extensive tanneries, sugar- 
works and distilleries. Here likewise were docks, 
wharves and ware-houses, all which were de- 
stroyed by the British, and of which no vestiges 
now remain. The ship-building of Newport is 
however still carried on in the ship-yards at this 
I part of the town. Mr. Thornton stopped the 

carriages at '' Gravelly Point," formerly called 
" Bull's Point,' a beach remarkable as the place of 
execution, where twenty-six pirates were all 
hanged together on the 19th of July A. D. 1723. 
These pirates were found on board the sloop 
Fortune, commanded by Low, and the Ranger, 
commanded by one Harris, both which piratical 
cruisers were captured fourteen leagues from the 
east end of Long-Island, by captain Peter Solyard, 
of the English ship Grey-hound, on the 10th of 
June previous, 1723. Leaving behind them the 
scene where these unhappy men had met the pun- 
ishment too justly merited by their crimes, our 
party proceeded to Fort Greene, commonly called 
the '• North Battery," a pleasant spot though now 
dismantled in ruins, notwithstanding it was forti- 
fied so recently as at the breaking out of the late 
war with England. Turning from Fort Greene, 
they proceeded to the shore, Mr. Thornton hav- 



100 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

ing procured a " Permit " from the committee 
who superintend the asylum, to visit that estab- 
hshment. As a boat is always in waiting, they 
were quickly wafted across the narrow channel 
from Rhode-Island to Coaster's Harbor Island, on 
which the asylum is situated. It is a handsome 
stone-edifice, occupying an airy and pleasant si- 
tuation and appearing to great advantage from the 
harbor. It is supplied with every accommodation, 
that benevolence could devise, for the comfort of 
its inhabitants. The able-bodied pensioners are 
required to contribute to their own support by 
cultivating the large and valuable farm, on which 
it stands, and as the land is extremely fertile, its 
produce has greatly diminished the expense of 
maintaining the poor of Newport, who find them- 
selves much more commodiously situated than 
before their removal from town, though it is said, 
they submitted to the measure with unconquer- 
able repugnance. The hearts of the young 
strangers dilated with satisfaction as they ob- 
served the neatness and orderly appearance of the 
house, and the kind treatment they receive from 
the people who have charge of them ; and they 
felt great pleasure in distributing the little presents 
of various kinds, which their grand-father had 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 101 

provided for them to bestow among the pensioners. 
As they were returning from the Asylum, Mr. 
Thornton remarked, that, since its erection the 
street-beggars who had previously been an ab- 
solute nuisance in Newport, had entirely disap- 
peared. Having recrossed the creek, they drove 
directly to Malbone's garden, into which they ob- 
tained admission by the payment of four pence 
each. 

Colonel Hardy, desirous of viewing the old 
work on " Tonomy Hill," readily acceded to Mr. 
Thornton's proposal of ascending to its summit. 
This hill was fortified by the British, while in the 
possession of the island during the Revolution. 
It terminated the left wing of the intrenchments, 
with which they surrounded the town on the 
north and east. The ascent on the south-side of 
this hill is a tolerably easy slope, but on the other 
sides its rocks have been cut into a smooth perpen- 
dicular, which in some places are even now in- 
accessible. From the vestiges which yet remain, 
Colonel Hardy pronounced it to have been a 
strong and important fortress. Alfred and Frank, 
found much amusement in tracing out by the 
colonel's assistance, (who as a soldier was conver- 
sant with such subjects,) the form and original 

9* 



102 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

boundaries of the old intrenchmeiit. On tlie 
summit of this hill are the ruinous walls of a 
brick block-house, erected there during the pre- 
sidency of the first Adams. 

As they were, descending the hill, Francis in- 
quired if the hill had been named in honor of the 
celebrated St. Tammany, as he had observed it was 
more frequently called Tammany than '' Tono- 
my," as his grand-father and the colonel both pro- 
nounced it." 

"No," replied Mr. Thornton, ''Tonomy" is the 
vulgar abbreviation of the name Wonnumetono- 
my, who, at the time when Mr. Coddington pur- 
chased the island of the Narragansett Sachems, 
Miantonimo and Canonicus, was, (under them,) 
the resident Sachem, or Governor of the island. 
The wigwam of this Sachem was situated here ; 
and it was the -^ royal residence" both before and 
after the conquest of the island by the Narragan- 
setts." 

"But I have always thought, sir, that the na- 
tives of this island were a part of the great Nar- 
ragansett nation," observed Alfred ; " were they 
then ever indpendent of them V 

"So says tradition," replied Mr. Thornton, 
" and so we must suppose from the fact that the f 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 103 

Narragansetts obtained the island '' by conquest." 
The island was conquered some time before the 
settlement of the English at New Plymouth, but 
how long previous, it is impossible to ascertain. 
The battle, which decided the fate of the "Aquid- 
ians," was fought at a place about three miles 
and a quarter from our State-House in Newport, 
at a swamp or low ground in the township of 
Middletown, near the brook or iHvei', as it was 
formerly called, a little eastward of the road lead- 
ing to Bristol ferry. From a tradition, handed 
down from one Doctor Garret, a physician, whose 
testimony is esteemed worthy of full credit, and 
who is supposed to have received it from the In- 
dians themselves, it appears, that there had been a 
sea-fight between the Narragansetts and thcxlquid- 
ians, in which the latter were entirely defeated. 
After this discomfiture, they were assailed by their 
enemies on land, and collected the remnant of their 
tribe, commanded by their Sachem in person, to 
make a last and desperate struggle in defense of 
their freedom and their country ; when, at the 
place I have mentioned, their camp was surroun- 
ded on all sides by their enemies. Their Sachem 
and great warriors were slaughtered, and their ar- 
my completely vanquished. The unhappy sur- 



104 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

vivors thus became the tributaries of the Narra- 
gansetts, and so continued until the settlement of 
the island by our forefathers.* Wonnumetono- 
my, from whom this hill derives its name, is sup- 
posed to have been the heir of the Sachem killed 
in this battle. In corroboration of the truth of 
this tradition," added Mr. Thornton, " I should 
mention that the fact of the " Conquest" is recited 
in the Indian Deed of the Island." 

Having finished their survey of the hill, and 
enjoyed the extensive prospects it afforded, they 
now descended to examine the celebrated ruins of 
Malbone House. They found the ladies, (who 
had declined the fatiguing walk to the hill,) so- 
ciably and comfortably seated on the lofty flight 
of stone-steps,t which once conducted to the 
principal portal of this splendid mansion, where 
Ellen was employed under her aunt's tuition, in a 
first attempt at sketching from nature, being de- 
sirous of conveying on canvas to her friends at 
New- York some faint idea of the beautiful pros- 
pect around, which appeared so charming to her- 
self. The younger children were gamboling 

* Vide Note III, at the end of the volume. 
t These steps have since been removed. 



^n 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 105 

among the ruins, or bounding along the garden- 
walks, in pursuit of wild flowers and butterflies. 
As the gentlemen rejoined the group, a venerable 
figure, dressed in the primitive attire of a^Quaker, 
suddenly emerged from the shadow of some trees 
hard by, bearing in his hand a rake with which 
he had been employed. 

" A beautiful spot, sir," exclaimed Colonel Har- 
dy, bowing with polite affability to the aged man, 
'• a beautiful spot, sir, notwithstanding its formal 
borders of clipped boxwood and the antique taste, 
which so strictly required that every " alley should 
have its brother." From the vestiges of elegance 
yet remaining, I should suppose the villa must 
have been superb." 

" Thou art right, friend ; there was no such 
dwelling in the provinces," replied the (Quaker ; 
but like all earthly pomps and vanities it had 
but a brief existence. It is melancholy to walk 
here of an evening, as I sometimes do, and hear 
the snake hiss, the ivy rustle, and the winds moan, 
where kind words and glad voices once so gaily 
echoed." 

" It teaches us a solemn lesson on the vanity of 
human greatness," said Mr. Thornton. 

" It doth so, friend Thornton," replied the aged 



106 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

moralist, "and thy young people may here learn 
the folly of seeking a portion among corruptible 
things, to the neglect of that better and enduring 
inheritance, which is reserved for *' the pure in 
heart ;" and he cast a benevolent glance on the 
young faces around him. 

" The proprietor of this villa must have been 
affluent," observed the colonel. 

'' He was one of the most opulent in the pro- 
vinces, young man," was the reply. " His town- 
house, which is yet standing in Newport, was 
also a splendid habitation. It is an ancient brick 
building, perhaps thou hast observed it." 

" I have," replied the officer, " it has an im- 
posing appearance with its portico, double flight 
of lofty steps, and its heavy and highly ornamented 
iron gates and railings." 

" The interior* also presents many vestiges of 
its former splendor," added the Gluaker, " in its 
gilded cornices and pannel work, and its mantels 
of rich marble. But the house on the ruins of 
which you stand, was the most superb mansion in 
the colonies. It was once the resort of all the gay, 

* Tills ancient mansion has recently been converted into a 
Bjodern dwelling. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 107 

and falsely called great ones of our island, and 
has been the scene of many a splendid banquet 
and joyous revel. But, ' pride goeth before de- 
struction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' " 

" By what means, sir," asked Alfred, " was it 
reduced to its present ruinous condition ?" 

Alfred had addressed his grand-father, who, 
though perfectly acquainted with its history, pre- 
ferred that his children should hear it from the 
Quaker, with whose serious remarks and im- 
pressive manner he had been particularly pleased. 

" It was destroyed by accident," replied the 
latter. On a day when a large party had assem- 
bled at dinner, their mirth was suddenly inter- 
rupted by the alarm of fire, which had been kin- 
dled by a spark from the kitchen-chimney. Thou 
seest it is far from town, and except the farm- 
house wherein I now live, there was no dwelling 
near. The neighboring farmers assembled as 
soon as the alarm was given, ready and wihing 
to exert themselves for the preservation of tha 
property ; but they came from a distance, and the 
flames had made considerable progress before the 
fire was discovered. It was moreover a very 
windy day, and in spite of all their efforts the 
house was reduced to a smouldering ruin before 
night-fall." 



108 VISIT TO GRANU-PAPA. 

" 'Sic, transit gloria mundi !'" — exclaimed the 
colonel. 

" But I heard old Mrs. Guthrie say, that the de- 
struction of the house was chiefly owing to the 
folly and pride of its haughty mistress," observed 
Ellen. 

" Ay, it is seldom that any one omits that part 

of the story, as our friend Mr. B m has done," 

observed Mr. Thornton with a smile. 

'^ I omitted it friend Thornton, because I feel 
reluctant to speak of the faults of the dead, — even 
when I know that a story is true," replied the 
benevolent quaker, and added, turning to Ellen, 
" I am not ignorant of the story my young friend 
— ^for few people ever speak of Malbone House, 
without referring to it. It is an old story that the 
haughty lady would not endure to have her spa- 
cious halls and parlors polluted by a rabble of 
country boys and farmers, nor allow them to tram- 
ple with their dusty shoes over her rich carpets 
and mahogany stairs, even to preserve her stately 
mansion from destruction, and that being allowed 
to enter only by the back doors, it was found im- 
possible to convey water to the roof fast enough to 
extinguish the flames, in consequence of which, 
the haughty woman lost her house." 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 109 

« Good enough for her," said Frank, ^' she de- 
served it for her folly." 

" She did so, young man. if the story be true," 
observed the quaker ; " but let us beware of cher- 
ishing the same spirit we condemn in her. It 
is easy, my young friend, to censure the faults 
of others, but difficult to detect and conquer our 
own." 

" Remember that, my son !" exclaimed Mrs. 
Thornton. 

'' And remember too, that the truth of this part 
of the story cannot be vouched for," added Miss 
Katie. 

" Aye," said Mr. Thornton, " that is the vulgar 
version of the story, though the common one, 
which I always have considered rather apocryphal 
— for haughty as the lady very probably was, she 
was not a fool." 

" Her husband was not, at least," added Miss 
Katie, " for he bore his loss, with the calmness of 
a philosopher as appears from an anecdote record- 
ed in a newspaper of the period — the Newport 
Herald if I mistake not. I met with it the other 
day in looking over a file of old papers — and as 
nearly as I can recollect, the paragraph read thus : 
< June 7th, 1766 — the elegant dwelling-house, 

10 



110 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

being the country-seat of Col. Godfrey Malbone, 
was entirely consumed by fire.' The Colonel had 
a large family party at dinner, and finding that no 
efforts could arrest the progress of the flames or- 
dered the dinner to be conveyed to an out-building 
adjacent, cooly observing, 'If I have lost my 
house that is no reason that we should lose our 
dinner.' " 

" But we shall lose ours at this rate, my child," 
said Mr. Thornton, and turning to the quaker 

added — '' We thank you, Mr. B m, for your 

narrative, and still more for your apposite and 
impressive remarks. I hope the moral to be derived 
from your story and the sight of this melancholy 
ruin will be beneficial to my young family." 

" I wish it may, friend Thornton," returned the 
quaker. '^ A sight like this should teach us all the 
vanity of that ' wealth which maketh itself wings 
and flieth away,' — and in the pursuit of which so 
many of us waste the time, and mis-apply the 
talents which were bestowed upon us for nobler 
purposes. Here we may see, my young friends, 
how poor and perishable is all earthly grandeur — it 
vanisheth away leaving an unsightly pile of ruins to 
tell that it hath ever been. Let us therefore learn to 
look higher my children, and beyond this transit- 



VISIT TO GRAND- PAPA. Ill 

ory state of existence lay up imperishable treasures 
in the eternal mansions beyond the grave." He 
stooped as he ceased speaking and gathering some 
wall-flowers and wild-roses, that bloomed amongst 
the ruins presented them to Ellen saying, " Let 
these remind thee, through the day at least, young 
friend, of the melancholy ruin of ^ Malbone 
House.' " 

'' I will dry and preserve them, sir," she replied, 
with a modest and grateful smile, " that I may 
remember tlie lesson much longer than a day." 

'^ Remember it to thy latest day, my young 
friend, and thou wilt be the wiser and happier for 
it," rejoined the pious quaker, and resuming his 
gardening implements he bade them a cordial 
" Farewell !" 

*' That worthy man should have been a Bishop," 
exclaimed the Colonel warmly. 

<' A mitre would not better become his good 
grey head, than his own broad beaver," replied 
Mr. Thornton as they all gazed after his retiring 
figure with feelings of interest and veneration; 
Ellen having finished her sketch and the sun 
becoming sultry as it approached the meridian, 
the party re-entered their carriages and casting a 
melancholy farewell glance at the wreck of former 



113 VISIT TO GRAND-FAFA. 

splendor drove away. It was a part of their 
place to alight and " reconnoitre," as the Colonel 
expressed it, the ground where the battle was 
fouofht between the Americans and Eng-lish durino^ 

O DO 

the revolution ; but they had loitered so long at 
Malbone House, that they could not with any de- 
gree of comfort ramble over the unsheltered fields, 
beneath the fervid rays of the now almost vertical 
sun. The carriages were therefore ordered to 
drive immediately to the woody and romantic glen 
called Kendall's Mills, where Mr. Thornton pro- 
posed that they should dine and afterwards ramble 
about in the shade until the sun began to decline. 
The ladies were enchanted with this beautifully 
secluded spot, and even Col. Hardy who had not 
a spice of romance in his composition, was ex- 
ceedingly delighted with the shadowy coolness of 
this sequestered retreat. 

They wandered through the glen and around 
the silvery sheet of water which was that day 
undisturbed by the clatter of the busy mills, and 
which is beautifully overhung by little woody hills 
to the almost total exclusion of the sun-beams — • 
while Cato after having procured milk from a 
neighboring farm-house, selected a convenient spot 
and spread their repast in pic-nic style on the 



VISIT TO GRAND-PA.PA. 113 

verdant green sward. A happy group they were 
who gathered with merry bustle to partake of the 
refreshments which the worthy African placed 
before them. While the elder part of the company 
chatted and laughed the children gambolled with 
all the heartfelt gaiety natural to their age, Col- 
onel Hardy and even Mr. Thornton himself en- 
tering occasionally into their innocent pastimes. 
When the meal was finished, Cato, as he care- 
fully gathered up his forks and spoons, interrupted 
the conversation by calling Miss Thornton aside 
to inform her that a plough boy whom he had met 
in the fields, had told him of an infirm and 
destitute widow half a mile off, to whom the rem- 
nants of their repast would be very acceptable, 
adding as he packed them carefully and neatly in 
a large napkin that there was more than one bottle 
of wine untouched, which would do the poor wo- 
man's rheumatism more good than all the "doctor's 
stuff" in Newport — and receiving his mistress' 
permission to dispose of it as he thought proper 
the gratified old servant marched off to fulfil his 
benevolent errand, and Miss Thornton returned to 
the company, who, in scattered groups were now 
sauntering about the valley, to which on Cato's 
return they bade a reluctant farewell, andproceed- 

10* 



114 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

ing through Miss Katie's favorite route, Green 
End, rode to Sessawich Beach. On this beach 
are the " Hanoring: rocks " and at the western end 

' 

the singular chasm called Purgatory — a gloomy 
abyss formed in the solid rock by some violent 
convulsion of nature. There is water at the 
bottom supposed to be fathomless — and its sides are 
filled with swallow's nests which remain unmol- 
ested in the clefts of the precipitous rocks inac- 
cessible to the foot of man. Purgatory is cele- 
brated as the scene of the famous ''Lover's Leap," 
of which story no one can be ignorant who has 
resided long at Newport. Charles Hardy and 
Frank Thornton while heedlessly clambering 
about the rocks, approached the verge of the hor- 
rible gulf so nearly, that had the shghtest pebble 
slipped^ beneath their' feet they must inevitably 
have been precipitated to the bottom. 

The ladies turned pale with apprehension, and 
the Colonel fearing to startle them by calling aloud 
advanced cautiously behind them, and drew them 
back from their dangerous situation with a kind 
but by no means a gentle hand, bestowing on his 
son at the same time a severe shaking, together 
with a stern reprimand for his temerity. He then 
conducted them to a spot where they might in- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 115 

dalge their curiosity at a less fearful risk. The 
children amused themselves a long time in throw- 
ing stones into the chasm and listening to the 
thundering sound they produced as they bounded 
from rock to rock and sunk at length into the 
water. 

"One would scarcely imagine a place better 
fitted up by the hand of Nature for the accommo- 
dation of ' demons dire,' " observed the Colonel, as 
they stood surveying the abyss. 

'•Has it no presiding genius?" inquired Mr. 
Thornton; "is there no legend attached to the place 
to give it interest ?" 

"Every body has heard the tradition of the Lov- 
er's Leap," said Miss Thornton. 

"Of course," rejoined the Colonel; "but have 
you never a ghost here, to introduce to our notice 
— those lovers were mere creatures of flesh and 
blood." 

" Pardon me sir," cried Mrs. Thornton, " you 
forget that we poor Yorkers have never heard of 
Purgatory itself till to-day, and know nothing of 
this legend." 

" Let us have it then, by all means, Miss Thorn- 
ton," said the Colonel, " and the more ghosts you 
can muster for it the better. Let us have the 



116 VISIT TO GRAND-FATA. 

Story with all its machinery, if there be any 
madam." 

" Unfortunately there is not even the shadow of 
a ghost about the place," said Miss Katie. 

" Pshaw ! what a pity !" exclaimed the Colonel. 
" I wish your old nurse were here — she would 
conjure them up by battalions." 

" Nay then, an^ you be in that humor, you shall 
have the legend of the Squaw, and the personage 
very unpoetically styled ' Old Nick," said Mr. 
Thornton, " and if it be not the most romantic and 
agreeable story of the two, even Miss Thornton 
must admit that it is the most ancient." 

" Let us have it by all means dear sir," en- 
treated Mrs. Thornton. 

" Tradition says," resumed Mr. Thornton '• that 
after the settlement of our island, some of the 
Indians were not quite so well satisfied with the 
bargain they had made, as were their English 
neighbors ; — which I think you will allow was 
by no means surprising when I tell you that they 
had bartered away the whole of it for a string of 
beads !" 

" A string of heads grand-papa !" exclaimed the 
children in amazement. '' What ! the whole of 
this beautiful island for a string of beads ?" 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 117 

" Even so, my dears — the island was sold by 
them to the English for 40 fathoms of wampum." 

" Wampum," replied Edward. <' What is warn- 
pii??i, if you please, grand-papa ? I never heard 
of wampum before." 

" Wampum," replied Mr. Thornton, " is a cor- 
ruption of the word ' Wampampea,' which signifies 
« Indian money.' The Indians you know were 
unacquainted with the use of metals, and this 
wampum supplied the place of coin among them. 
It was their current money when the country was 
settled by the English, and was called Wampam- 
pea by the Narragansetts and other tribes of New- 
England. Wampum is of two kinds, white and 
black — the one made of the shell of the perriwin- 
kle [Baccimim imdatiim, Lin. ;) the other of that 
of the clam ( Venus ?nerce?iaria, Lin.) both which 
belong to the class V€i'7nes testacea, you know, 
Ellen — these shells being formed into beads, Ed' 
ward, are what we call wampum — and now let 
me get on with my story. Notwithstanding the 
dissatisfaction of some of the Indians respecting 
their bargain, it appears that they lived on very 
amicable terms with their white neighbors, some of 
them dwelling as inmates with the Yengees, as 
they called them. Of this number was an old 



118 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Indian woman, who at length on some provocation 
avenged herself by the murder of a white man — 
and fearing the resentment of his people, instantly 
fled the town. Having arrived in this vicinity she 
was on a sudden, rather unexpectedly accosted by 
a certain distinguished personage, in her own 
language denominated Hobomoko, but in plain 
English, the devil^ whom the Indians worshipped 
you know, from a principle of fear. He abruptly 
informed the poor culprit that he had come to 
carry her off in order to punish her for the murder 
she had committed — a proposal not a whit the 
more agreeable to her from the circumstance of 
his having assumed the appearance and dress of 
an Englishman. Recollecting however that she 
had proved more than a match for one white man, 
she fancied that she might possibly manage to 
scalp another, and flatly declined the honor of 
attending him, but he as obstinately persisting in 
his purpose, they soon proceeded from high irords 
to bloivs, exchanging cuff" for cuff* with right good 
will, until they had approached this abyss, toward 
which, during their boxing-match the devil had 
been urging her by imperceptible degrees, when 
suddenly seizing the unhappy squaw, Mr. Hobo- 
moko plunged with her into that unfathomable 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 119 

gulf. Tradition adds that the print of his cele- 
brated cloven-foot, and those of the poor woman's 
hands (who struggled vainly to escape so horrible 
a fate) are indelibly imprinted on the rocks, but 
though I have often heard others assert that they 
had seen them and have spent many an hour of 
my boyhood in searching for them myself, I was 
never so fortunate as to discover them." 

<' Alack ! for the poor squaw !" exclaimed the 
facetious officer, as Mr. Thornton concluded. 
" The tradition befits the place, which seems to be 
indeed a fitting entrance to the abodes of darkness ; 
but now for the ' lover's leap,' " he added, turning 
to Miss Katie. 

" Oh yes, the lover's leap, aunty," cried the 
young people eagerly, '' let us now hear about the 
« lover's leap.' " 

" Well then — to begin in the old and approved 
style of story-telling," said Miss Thornton, " once 
there was a man, a very wealthy person, who 
owned all Sessawich and the land as far as we 
can see, for aught I know. This gentleman had 
a daughter who like all great heiresses was very 
beautiful of course, and had many admirers, for 
when was a rich heiress without them V asked 
Miss Katie laughing, " and among those of the 



120 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

heroine of my story was one elegant and accom- 
plished young gentleman, whom, as he was most 
sincerely attached to her, she failed not to treat 
with great cruelty and scorn — intending neverthe- 
less to marry him when she had broken his heart 
often enough. One day as they were rambling 
about the rocks just here, the capricious beauty, in 
reply to some protestation of her lover, pointed to 
yonder fearful gulf and bade him as a test of his 
sincerity and devotion to her, leap across the abyss, 
promising that if he survived the enterprise she 
would immediately give him her hand." 

" He fell in, I suppose, and was dashed to death 
as he deserved to be !" exclaimed Frank, as his 
aunt paused for breath. 

'' Nay," said the Colonel, " he could not, in that 
case, have refused to haunt the place, if he were a 
ghost of any gallantry." 

" No — he did not fall in — and he was not dash- 
ed to death," returned Miss Thornton ; " he did 
better than that — for after looking intently for a 
moment in the face of his mistress — to ascertain 
if she were in earnest I suppose, he suddenly 
dropped her hand, and the next moment he had 
leaped across the chasm and was standing erect 
on the rocks yonder. 




i' \ K.A PIS, I-. NKAB iVIlWHUR/C, 7e /. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 121 

« Fool for his pains," " said Frank once more j" 
pity he had not broken his neck." 

"He did better than that," repeated his 
laughing aunt, " for as soon as he had alighted 
from his flying leap in safety, he turned round 
and expressed in the most eloquent terms his 
admiration of the lady's fine person, complimented 
her ironically upon the goodness of her heart, and 
then with a most profound obeisance pronounced 
an eternal farewell and deliberately marched away, 
with only one pocket to his coat leaving the other, 
as a keepsake I suppose, in the hand of the lady, 
who, when she saw him about to obey her com- 
mand in sober earnest had seized him by the coat 
in order to prevent it. Tradition further asserts 
that flying into a passion on the loss of her lover 
the lady dashed — not herself^ Francis — but the 
coat-flap into the gulf, where, as it has never 
since been heard of, it undoubtedly remains to 
this day." 

" Oh ! It haunts the place, " cried the Colonel. 
" It is undoubtedly haunted by the " ghost of the 
coat-flap," and so the gentleman was cured of 
his passion, Miss Katie ! — Why really, madam, the 
virtues of this modern Leucadia ought to be better 
Imown in the world. What regiments of love- 

11 



122 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

lorn swains would crowd hither to heal their 
broken hearts, or break their foolish necks in the 
attempt, did they but know the efficacy of a leap 
across Purgatory ! In common charity I think, 
the world should be apprized of it." 

" It grows late, my dear," said Mrs. Hardy, " and 
you forget that we have to cross the water before 
we get home. If we mean to visit Paradise, ladies, 
I believe it is time we were off," she added, " and 
according to the poor Papists' creed we have now 
a right of admittance — having "passed Purga- 
tory." 

" Your remark Mrs. Hardy, reminds me that to- 
morrow is the Sabbath," said her husband, " and 
if any of our friends here would like to worship 
among us plain Congregationalists, we have a 
pew large enough to accommodate them all, — and 
shall be very happy to escort you thither," he ad- 
ded, bowing to the Thornton family. His invita- 
tion was instantly accepted by Mrs. Thornton, 
whose stay in Newport being necessarily limited 
to a week allowed her no other opportunity of 
visiting the churches. A short drive brought our 
little party to the spot which by some means or 
other has obtained the high sounding title of 
Paradise. It is merely a long and delightful 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 123 

grove of sycamore trees, skirting the base of a 
rocky hill which is ornamented by many pretty 
groves of mulberry and other trees, by little 
verdant glades, and slopes, piles of rocks and 
clumps of trees scattered about it on all sides; 
The summit of this hill affords a richly diversi- 
fied and most extensive prospect both of the island 
and the ocean, the beauty of which more than 
compensates the trouble and fatigue of ascending 
it. Parties from Newport often go thither during 
the summer season, to pass the day in rambling 
about, taking refreshments with them as the Thorn- 
tons had done at Kendall's Mills. Our little 
party remained at Paradise until reminded of the 
necessity of returning home, by the setting sun. 
When once more re-enterinof their carriasfes with 
some reluctance, they drove rapidly to town. CoL 
and Mrs. Hardy could not be prevailed on to 
alight, but proceeded directly to Fort Wolcott, and 
fatigued with their long excursion, Mr. Thornton's 
family were glad to retire to rest at a very early 
hour. 



CHAPTER V. 

Conversation on the profanation of the Sabbath — Franks' indolence 
reproved — Sunday Schools — Churches, &c., &c. 

The family of Mr. Thornton arose at their usual 
hour on the ensuing morning, with the exception 
of Francis, who, thinking as too many are apt to 
do, that provided he rose in season to attend pubhc 
worship, it was of no consequence how he dis- 
posed of the remainder of the day, continued in 
bed until an express summons from his grand- 
father compelled him to rise. " I do think it is 
absolute nonsense," he said pettishly, to Alfred, 
who had brought him his grand-father's message ; 
" We have nothing on earth to do and grandpapa 
might let me sleep. I am tired to death with our 
yesterday's strolling, and he must be fatigued him- 
self, I should think. " But the whole family are 
assembled for prayers and wait only for you, re- 
plied Alfred, " and I am sure that my mother is 
displeased at your lying in bed so late." 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 125 

« Well ! if I must get up, I must," said Frank, 
sullenly, as he began reluctantly to dress, "but 
I cannot imagine why it is necessary for them to 
wait for me. 

Alfred returned to the parlor, where, in profound 
silence the assembled household were awaiting the 
appearance of his brother, who at length shuffled, 
evidently in no very good humour, into the room. 

" We have waited for you, Mr. Francis," said 
his grand-father, gravely, and Frank in confusion 
stammered something which he meant for aii 
apology. 

** Are you ill Frank ?" asked his grand-father. 

" Not in the least sir, replied Francis, promptly. 

" This is the first day since your arrival Francis, 
that you have not risen with the birds," said Mr. 
Thornton ; " may I ask your reasons for lying so 
late to day?" 

I felt somewhat fatigued, sir — and as we had 
nothing particular to do, and no where to go, I 
thought there was no occasion to be in a hurry .'^ 

" Had there been a party of pleasure or an ap- 
pointment for business in view, then we are to 
suppose you would have risen betimes," said 
Mr. Thornton." 

" Certainly sir — I am in the habit of rising 

11* 



126 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

early," replied Frank, beginning to feel a little 
uneasy. 

" You are not to be a lawyer, Frank," said his 
grand father, but you can inform us, I dare say, 
what burglary is, and what is its penalty. 

'•Burglary is house-breaking, and punishable 
with death, I believe, " said Frank, staring in 
unfeigned amazement. 

''|And sacrilege ?" pursued Mr. Thornton. 

" Sacrilege is the violation of sacred things — 
such as the robbery of a church, or the appropria- 
tion of consecrated things to any unhallowed pur- 
pose." 

" And which do you consider the greatest crime, 
my son, burglary or sacrilege ? asked Mr. Thorn- 
ton. 

"Sacrilege undoubtedly," replied Frank, "as it 
is a crime committed more directly against God." 

" You are right Frar-cis — and now let me ask 
what is meant by a Sabbath ?" 

" It is the seventh part of our time which we 
are commanded to devote to the worship of our 
Maker, and in which we are to refrain from " all 
worldly words and works," answered Frank, with 
characteristic ino^enuousness, though he now begfan 
to comprehend his grand-fat! ler's drift. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 127 

" But which part of the Sabbath are we to de- 
vote to the worship of God? demanded Mr. 
Thornton. 

" The whole of it sir," rephed Frank, coloring 
crimson. 

" Enough Francis," said the old gentleman " I 
leave you to judge whether or not you have robbed 
your Maker, by wasting in indolence that holy 
time which should have been devoted to Him. — • 
You said just now that you should have risen 
notwithstanding your fatigue, had there been any 
excursion in view, or any business to attend to. — 
Does not this argue great ingratitude unto, and 
most sinful contempt of God ?" 

" Contempt of God ! — exclaimed Frank, in a 
tone of horror. 

"I said so sir," — returned his grandfather ; "I 
understood you to say, that had there been a party 
of pleasure in view, or business to be transacted, 
you would have risen in season to attend to them, 
and in so doing you would have behaved with 
proper respect and attention to those with whom 
you had an appointment. — But as you were only 
to meet your God and render Him the appointed 
service, which is less than His due, you thought 
it quite immaterial, whether you rose or not, or 



128 VISIT TO ORAND-PAPA. 

how the time were wasted. Is not this treating 
your Maker with for less respect and attention 
than you would think due in common civility to 
your fellow creatures ; and is not this treating 
God and his commands contemptuously Mr. 
Francis ?" Frank turned away conscience stricken, 
and Mr. Thornton as he reverentially turned over 
the sacred pages of a large Bible, called on little 
Emma to repeat the fourth Commandment ; after 
which he read the 17th of Jeremiah. As he closed 
the sacred volume and took up the prayer-book, 
he again turned to Frank ; you look hurt Francis," 
he said, " but are I suspect as much vexed at the 
reprimand you have received, as you are sorry for 
your fault. 

" I should have been quite as penitent for my 
fault sir," replied Frank rather bluntly, "had I 
been reproved more privately." 

" Perhaps so — but would you have remembered 
the crime you have committed as long as you are 
now likely to do ?" asked his grand-father. 

"Crime !" echoed Frank in displeasure, ^^ crime, 
sir, is I think rather a harsh term for the mere 
fault of lying a-bed a little later than usual. 

" How so ? demanded Mr. Thornton, " you just 
now gave it as your opinion that sacrilege was a 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 129 

greater crime than burglary, which by our laws 
is a capital offence." Did I misunderstand you, 
Francis ?" 

" No sir — I certainly said, and I still think so," 
replied Frank honestly, yet with a dissatisfied air, 
he added, '' but I think also that the severe reproof 
I have received might have been given privately." 

" I see you are displeased with me Mr. Francis," 
said Mr. Thornton, "and as we are about to 
present our supplications to the Most High, I will 
endeavor to convince you that your displeasure 
is unjust — lest you should cherish resentful feel- 
ings in your heart, while you are asking God to 
forgive you, as you forgive others." I supposOj" 
continued Mr. Thornton, "I suppose you admit 
that we ought, if possible, to make our very faults 
as well as our virtues, beneficial to others." 

Frank bowed with a respectful, though not a 
pleased air. 

" You will likewise allow that any error com- 
mitted in presence of or with the knowledge of 
those over whom we have influence, is an injury 
to them. 

*' Certainly sir,an evil example is very injurious," 
said Frank. 

*« Well then," pursued Mr. Thornton, pleased to 



130 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

discover that the straight-forwardsincerity of Fran-. 
cis was neither to be awed nor seduced into the 
meanness of prevarication, " Well then," he said, 
" as the whole family have waited for* you so long, 
you are aware that they cannot be ignorant of 
your fault. My duty to my household requires 
that I should endeavor, as much as in me lies, to 
prevent the injurious effects of your example. 
I therefore judged it right to make you atone as 
far as possible for your error, by bringing you to 
a candid confession of it, in their presence. You 
are, I am happy to perceive, usually honest and 
ingenuous, and I expect a candid reply, when I 
ask you which of us is in fault, and whether I 
have acted right or not. 

" Then sir, I acknowledge that you have done 
right," answered Frank, '' and I likewise confess 
and ask pardon for my great fault." 

" Ask it of God J Francis. It is His Sabbath 
you have profaned, His laws you have broken, 
and not mine," rejoined Mr. Thornton, " I am 
glad however, that you are at last sensible of your 
fault." 

"I am thoroughly ashamed of it, and sorry for it, 
and 1 can now thank you fro7n my hearty I believe, 
for the lesson I have received ; it will I hope make 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 131 

me more careful through life, in observing the 
Sabbath," said Frank. " I hope sir, that you and 
the family will forgive the evil example I have 
set — but do not call me I\ancis again sir." 

" I will not, my son. Sensible of your error 
you are our own Frank once more," replied Mr. 
Thornton, laying his hand affectionately on his 
head ; on removing it, he once more took up the 
prayer-book. Turning from his grand-father, 
Francis met the affectionate smile of his aunt, 
who, as she rose from her chair to kneel before it, 
extended her hand to him. Frank could scarcely 
restrain his tears as he received these testimonies 
of affection from his friends, and reflected on the 
still more abundant goodness and loving-kindness 
of that beneficent Being before whom he now 
knelt, to supplicate forgiveness through the merits 
of the Redeemer. 

When the family that morning assembled around 
the breakfast table, Mrs. Thornton was scarcely 
less surprised than her children to find the repast 
so different from what their morning meal had 
hitherto been. Cold bread and butter, ham, 
cheese, and radishes just taken from the garden, 
constituted the simple fare. After what had just 
passed, however, Mrs. Thornton and her elder chil- 



132 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

dren were at no loss to account for the circum- 
stance, and everyone ate heartily without making 
any remark until little Emma inquired why there 
was neither toast nor hot muffins — and no fried 
ham, no eggs, or broiled fish. 

" Because, my dear, it is Sunday," whispered 
Ellen. 

'< And is it wicked to eat toast, eggs, fish and 
muffins on Sunday T asked the little girl, in spite 
of her sister's endeavors to silence her. 

'• Ellen, let the child speak, my dear," said her 
grand-father, and addressing Emma, he added, 
*'No my dear, it is not wicked to eat any of the 
good things God gives us for food at any time, 
provided we do not abuse them ; but what says 
the fourth commandment, my little girl?" 

"I said it just now grand-papa — It is, " Remem- 
ber the Sabbath day to keep it holy — in it thou 
shalt do no manner of work, thou, nor thy son, 
nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy 
maid-servant. 

" There Emma, that is the reason we have 
nothing cooked to day that we can do without," 
said Mr. Thornton, "and is it not better to eat 
cold bread and meat once a week in these fine 
summer days, than to oblige poor Phillis and 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 133 

Nancy to break God's commandment every Sab- 
bath day," 

" Is that the reason we have cold food, grand- 
papa ?" inquired Edward, " but the tea and coffee 
are hot, grand-papa." 

" Because we have no method of boihng them 
without heat, my dear," replied Mr. Thornton, 
"and cold drinks would be unhealthy — besides, it 
requires but a very few minutes to prepare them, 
and in summer we have nothing else cooked on 
the Sabbath." 

" How strange, grand-papa," returned Edward, 
"I thought every body must cook dinner — always. 

" I used to think so too Ned, until your excellent 
grand-mother taught me better," replied Mr. Thorn- 
ton, " for it was not till my marriage that I dis- 
covered that a cold collation might be endured 
once a week. My pious wife considered all im- 
necessary labor on the Sabbath sinful^ and since 
that inestimable friend was taken from me, her 
daughter and myself take pleasure in adhering to 
all her regulations, and our servants reap the 
benefit of it. In winter our rule is, to have only 
one plain dish on the Sabbath, which the servants 
cook in rotation, sometimes Mrs. Guthrie and even 
my daughter herself, will considerately take the 

12 



134 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

task upon them, and by this method one member 
only of the family is detained from pubUc worship. 
Our servants share equally with ourselves the 
privileges of public ordinances, and if they neglect 
them, the fault is their own." 

" Grand-papa is very droll ! " exclaimed little 
Emma ; but then I am sure 1 shall want some- 
thing for dinner, for I am always hungry after 
church." 

*' We shall manage to have a dinner prepared 
for you my dear, said her aunt, '• and I doubt not 
you will make a hearty meal." 

"You make me feel sir, that I have myself 
been guilty of a sinful neglect of the Sabbath," 
said Mrs. Thornton, after a thoughtfal pause. 
" It was almost impracticable before my irre- 
parable loss, for us to have observed it as strictly 
as you do, as a military officer has but little time at 
his own disposal — and since my widowhood I 
have I fear, indulged my grief to the neglect of 
many of my duties. It is in a great measure 
owing to this negligence on my part that my chil- 
dren are not more observant of the Sabbath." 

" Oh no mamma, I am sure you are always tel- 
ling us what would have displeased papa," cried 
Ellen, " and how he would have grieved to see 
us doing wrong. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 135 

" The fault is not yours, mother," said Frank, 
<' we all know that you disapprove our neglect of 
the Sabbath and are always strict in observing it 
yourself." 

" A sort of half-way observance Frank, and 
your grand-father has now taught us both the duty 
of sanctifying the whole Sabbath. I think Alfred 
we must have new regulations in the family when 
we return, and I shall depend on you and your 
brother to assist me in enforcing them," added 
Mrs. Thornton. 

'' We shall all of us endeavor to do what you 
desire madam," replied Alfred, whom as her eldest 
son, his mother now considered the master of her 
establishment. 

" I think Emma I never saw you eat so hearty 
a breakfast, said Frank ; I think you cannot want 
another radish. 

" 1 think I can brother," replied Emma, " they 
are so nice — I like grandpapa's Sunday breakfasts 
best of all I think." 

«' You have given incontestible proofs of your 
approbation, my little girl," said her mother, 
smiling. 

When Emma had at length finished her repast. 
Miss Katie rose, saying, " I invite as many of you 



136 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

as are disposed to go, to attend me to the Episco- 
pal Church Sabbath School, of which I am a 
teacher and must of course attend to my duty." 

The young people gladly acceded to the pro- 
posal, but Mrs. Thornton having promised to ac- 
company Mrs. Hardy to the " Union Sabbath 
School" previous to the afternoon service, declined 
her sister's invitation lest she should be too much 
fatigued to fulfil that engagement. The children 
were very much pleased with the Sunday School 
to which their aunt conducted them, as well on 
account of the orderly behavior of the scholars, 
as the excellent management of the teachers. On 
entering church with her father-in-law, Mrs. 
Thornton found Miss Katie already seated in 
her father's pew with her young relatives. The 
Episcopal, called the "Trinity Church" of New- 
port, though without pretensions to magnificence 
was until recently the most elegant place of public 
worship in Newport. The worship of God, ac- 
cording to the ritual of the Church of England 
was here established in 1706, by the "Society for 
propagating the Gospel in foreign parts." This 
was the only church respected by the English, 
while in possession of the place during the revolu- 
tion. As "the pealing anthem swelled the note 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 137 

of praise," the eyes of our young strangers were 
simultaneously directed toward the fine organ 
whose deep and solemn tones filled the sanctuary, 
and their attention was attracted to the inscription 
beneath it which ran thus : — 

« The Gift of George Berkely 
late Lord Bishop of Cloyne." 
Mr. Thornton remained a short time after ser- 
vice, to give his grand-children an opportunity of 
examining the church and several handsome mo- 
numents that are placed upon its walls, after which 
they visited the burial ground on the north side 
of the church, where Mr. Thornton pointed out 
the tomb of the French Admiral De Ternay, who 
died while the fleet and army of the unfortunate 
Lewis Sixteenth of France, were at Newport. The 
tomb was sent over by that King, and is said to 
have once been of black marble, and the epitaph of 
the Admiral inscribed in letters of gold, but as it 
was placed outside of the church, its exposure to 
the inclemencies of half a century of winters has 
utterly despoiled it of its splendor. On their re- 
turn home the apprehensions of little Emma con- 
cerning her dinner were happily relieved, by the 
appearance of the table already spread with an ex- 
cellent cold collation, consisting of pigeon, pastry, 

12* 



138 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

tongue, ham and lobsters, which, with a dessert of 
pastry and fruit constituted their dinner. As they 
were rising from table, Col. and Mrs. Hardy with 
their accustomed punctuality, appeared to attend 
Mrs. Thornton and her children to the Union 
Sabbath School which is kept at the house of the 
Free School, and consists of about six hundred 
children of all denominations, who are there in- 
structed in the '' first principles of the Oracles of 
God," by a competent number of teachers under 
the direction of a superintendant. Here Mrs. 
Thornton and her family listened with much in- 
terest to the exercises until the ringing of the bells 
summoned them to public worship, when they 
were conducted by the Colonel to the second Con- 
gregational church, a neat and plain edifice where 
the services were conducted in the usually un- 
ostentatious and devout manner. When the con- 
gregation dispersed Mrs. Hardy, who disapproved 
of Sunday visiting, took leave of her friends and 
repaired with her family to the barge that waited 
to convey them back to Fort Wolcott, and Mr. 
Thornton's family proceeded homeward. Passing, 
as they did so, the First Congregational church,* and 

♦ This church has been since purchased and modernized by a 
Sociciy of Unitarians, recently established under the auspices of 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 139 

finding the assembly had just dispersed Mr. Thorn- 
ton allowed them to enter and examine it as they 
could now do so without inconvenience to them- 
selves or others. They found it, notwithstanding 
the dilapidated appearance of its exterior, inter- 
nally neat and rather pretty. The first Congre- 
gational church at Newport was founded in 1720, 
and the Rev. Nathaniel Clapp ordained its first 
pastor. That eminent divine, the late Dr. Samuel 
Hopkins was many years the pastor of this church, 
from which he was at length removed by death, 
and lies interred in the burying ground adjacent. 
Out of this church in 1728 the second Congrega- 
tional church was formed, of which Dr. Ezra 
Styles, (afterwards President of Yale College, 
Connecticut) was for more than thirty years the 
pastor. Since the visit of the young Thorntons 
to Newport these two churches have again united 
and now form " the United Conofresfational 
Church" of Newport. 

" Grand-papa," said Edward, " you said that all 
the churches of Newport were used as hospitals 

Dr. Channing," and the two Congregational churches, after a sepa- 
rate existence of more than a century were again united under the 
pastoral care of the Rev. H. A. Dumont, in June 1834, having erect- 
ed a new place of worship called the Spring Street Church. 



140 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

by the British garrison except the Episcopal. Was 
this one a hospital ?" he asked, as he looked almost 
incredulously around the interior of the First 
Congregational church where they were standing. 

" Yes my dear, this and all our churches except 
Trinity, were dismantled of their pews which 
were burned for fuel, and robbed of their bells 
which were converted into ship-bells for their fleet, 
and perhaps even the shells of the churches would 
not have escaped had they not required them for 
hospitals for the troops." 

" Was not that doing sacrilege, grand-papa," 
asked Edward. 

*' Say, committing sacrilege," whispered Frank. 

" Committing sacrilege," repeated the docile 
child. 

" Certainly my dear," replied Mr. Thornton, 
'•'since these churches had all been consecrated to 
the Most High God whom we all profess to wor- 
ship, though after a different ritual. I remember 
well," continued Mr. Thornton, " having been 
terrified by the groans of the poor soldiers under 
the tortures of amputation, while this was a hos- ':^ 

pital." 

« What is amputation, Frank ?" asked Edward 
in a whisper. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 141 

<' The cutting off a limb," replied Frank in the 
same tone, and immediately asking aloud, " You 
were in Newport, then, sir ?" 

" Yes, we remained here through the war ; my 
father havino^ lars^e estates here which he could 
not afford to relinquish. I recollect too that hav- 
ing wandered from home about dusk one evening, 
I saw, as I was running back, the body of a dead 
soldier borne from the hospital — that is, this meet- 
ing house, to be buried in the adjoining field. I 
was but a little fellow, and the recollection of that 
corpse extended on a board which was its only 
coffin, with a blanket thrown over it, haunted my 
young imagination for months afterward." 

'• How vv^icked to make hospitals of churches, 
and cut off people's limbs in them !" exclaimed 
little Emma. 

" It was rather worse to destroy them utterly, as 
was their usual practice," replied the old gentle- 
man ; " but they committed a laughable mistake at 
Bristol, where, instead of burning the Presbyterian 
church, they actually set fire to, and destroyed the 
Episcopal, which alone they meant to have 
spared." 

" How I do hate those ugly English, who were 
so fond of burning and spoiling every thing !" 
exclaimed Edward. 



142 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" My dear ! my dear !" cried his mother, re- 
proachfully, '= you forget what you have been 
taught in the sanctuary you just now left, 'to 
forgive your enemies, and pray for those that des- 
pitefuUy use you." 

*' Then mamma, I am sure, we ought to pray a 
great — great deal for the English," answered Ned, 
" for they used us despitefully loith a vengeance,''^ 

'^ It remains our duty to forgive them, notwith- 
standing," said his mother, " and we are forbidden 
to cherish vindictive feelinofs." 

" Well ! I will try to forgive them, mother," 
said Edward : '' for I suppose they are nearly all 
dead before this time, and then* children could not 
help what they did." 

" Could not j)r event it, you mean," said Mrs. 
Thornton. 

" But grand-papa, did you not have a very bad 
time, while they were here 7 Did they let you 
have any thing to eat, sir V^ asked Emma. 

" We could not have lived entirely without sus- 
tenance, my dear. But we were often reduced to 
great straits — being obliged to satisfy our hunger 
with the meanest, coarsest, and not unfrequently 
the most loathsome food. I have often dined on 
horse-fleshj and that half putrid. But we will talk 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 143 

of all this to-morrow — we have all been forgetting 
that to-day is the Sabbath." This conversation 
' had brought them to their own door which they 
now entered. While taking tea Frank expressed 
a wish to attend the lecture which Mrs. Guthrie 
said was to be preached that evening in the first 
Baptist church, and Mr. Thornton acceding to the 
proposal, again quitted the house attended by his 
grand-sons and repaired to that church. This is 
the oldest church in Newport, having been founded 
in 1644 by Mr. John Clarke and others of his 
persuasion. It was a plain unpretending edifice 
at that time, but has recently been repaired and 
modernized. It has, however, neither bell, steeple 
nor organ. Here they heard an edifying though 
plain discourse. When the assembly was dismis- 
sed, as it was a fine moon-light evening, the boys 
were very desirous of walking to the Quaker- 
Meeting-House which was founded in 1700 ; but 
as it was situated at a o^reat distance and in a 
direction different from that which conducted to 
his own house, Mr. Thornton objected, and they 
once more returned home. 



CHAPTER VI. 

A Rhode-Island fog — Song of the Gaspee, Lilly Pond — Funeral of 
Perry — Mrs. Guthrie's recollections of the Revolution. 

As they had anticipated much pleasure in visiting 
White-hall, the seat of the late celebrated Dean 
Cerkely, and Overing house, where the English 
General Prescot was captured during the Revolu- 
tion, by the intrepid Col. Barton, it was with no 
little disappointment that on rising the next morn- 
ing the young Thorntons found themselves envel- 
oped in a fog, so dense that they could scarcely 
discern the nearest houses in the vicinity. Frank 
especially was exceedingly chagrined, and declared 
that a single glance from the window was enough 
to give one the vapors for life. Many people 
passed the house closely muffled in coats and 
cloaks, who, Mr. Thornton assured him were 
strangers, Newport being thronged in the sum- 
mer with people from all parts of the Union and 
even from the West-Indies, who repair thither to 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 145 

enjoy the delicious sea-breezes and salubrious 
climate for which this island is so celebrated. 

" If this be one of the delights of a Rhode-Is- 
land summer," said Frank, petulantly, " the good 
people of Newport are heartily welcome to the 
entire enjoyment of it." 

"And we do enjoy it," said Mr. Thornton, 
laughing at his peevishness: "for disagreeable as 
it may be to the feelings of such dainty gentlemen 
as Mr. Frank Thornton, we know that we are in 
a great measure indebted to these very fogs for the 
purity and salubrity of our climate. Mr. Stewart, 
the celebrated traveller, who passed many summers 
on our island, was wont to enjoy these fogs as if 
he had been a native. He used to call them ' the 
broom' that swept our atmosphere clean, and I 
cannot help thinking that his opinion was as well 
deserving to be relied on, as that of the sapient 
Mr. Frank Thornton. There is no fear of taking 
cold from our fogs — and we only laugh to see 
strangers shrink within doors, and foolishly shun 
what would only do them good." 

*' Do them good, sir !" echoed Frank, " why it 
is as bad as rain ! See, how heavily the drops 
hang on the window sashes and blinds." 



13 



116 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" Very good," said his grand-father, amused by 
his pettishness. 

" Very good sir !" reiterated Frank once more, 
" I think it very disagreeable and cannot under- 
stand how you can avoid catching cold. Why, 
the very furniture within doors is damp to the 
touch." 

" Very true, Mr. Francis — it does feel as if it had 
been lying some days under water to be sure, and 
all our brass latches, grates and utensils are turned 
green, and if the furniture be not wiped and rub- 
bed often enough, you will perhaps see it soon 
covered with a thin ' blue mould,' as we call it. 
But what then, Mr. Francis ?" added his grand- 
father, mischievously, " the sun will shine out 
again in a week or two, and the brasses with a 
little rubbinof will be as brilliant as ever." 

" A week or two !" repeated Frank in dismay. 
Mercy on us ! are we to be drenched a week — a 
whole week in such a fog as this, sir ?" 

" Very possibly," replied Mr. Thornton, com- 
posedly. '' Once upon a time as all my family can 
remember, we saw the sun only once in three 
weeks and yet young gentleman, we were all alive 
and merry at the end of them." 

<' Tlien," cried poor Frank, " we may make up 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 147 

our minds I suppose, to be shut up in the house 
as long as we stay." 

" By no means," rephed Mr. Thornton, " at 
least /shall not consent to imprison myself, when 
there is nothing to prevent my going out." 

" Nothing to prevent it, sir," cried Frank, '■ I 
thought we had been obliged to give up our pro- 
jected excursion because it was too foggy for going 
out." 

" Too foggy for riding, I grant you — but only 
because we can see nothing," rejoined his grand- 
father. 

'^ And is there really no danger of getting one's 
death- cold in such a focr ?" 

" Yes, if you are a consumptive, no climate can 
be worse. Consumptives have no business here 
— our climate is too humid, and invariably proves 
fatal to those languishing under that disease who 
are unwise enough to come hither," said Mr. 
Thornton ; " but as I am now going for my morn- 
ing's walk, I need not assure you that I do not fear 
taking a death-cold from a sea-fog — though I 
should be very unwilling to make the experiment 
in a land-fog. We wrap not up for this, and think 
it savors not a little of affectation in these female 
strangers and dandies to muffle themselves in fur 



148 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

in mid-summer. Why, it is equal to a sea-bath, 
Frank — out with you, and try it." Frank cast a 
rueful glance at the window, and begged to be 
excused. Alfred, also, being deeply engaged with 
his aunt's well-stored port-folios, Mr. Thornton took 
his cane and sauntered out alone. The ladies 
being engaged with their needles, Frank left them 
to pursue their desultory conversation by them- 
selves, and sought amusement amongst his aunt's 
common-place books, where he discovered at 
length, what he considered an interesting curiosity. 

" What is it, that delights you so much ?" asked 
Miss Katie. 

" Something which I intend to beg of you, 
aimt," replied Frank ; " will you promise to give 
it me ?" 

** No, I make no promises blindfold," returned 
his aunt ; " but tell me what it is you are so de- 
sirous to possess, and possibly you may obtain it." 

" It is only this old Gaspee song," replied Frank, 
holding it up. 

" A Gasjjee song," is the Gaspee one of the dead 
languages as you call them, brother ?" A burst 
of laughter followed poor Edward's blunder, and 
when it subsided Miss Katie, pitying the little 
fellow's confusion, said, "Never mind, Edward — 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA, 149 

older people than you who never heard the word 
before, and do not know the names of the dead 
languages might have asked the same question." 

Mrs. Thornton requested Frank to explain his 
meaning to the child, and afterwards to read the 
story. 

'' I shall best explain the matter by reading it, I 
believe," said Frank, " and really, mother the thing 
is quite a curiosity," he then unfolded the piece, 
which appeared to have been cut from an old 
newspaper and read as follows : — - 

" THE OLDEN TIME. 

Among the papers of the late Hon. Theodore 
Foster, has been found the printed copy of the 
following song — commemorating the first act of 
resistance to the sheddina: of blood that marked 
the American Revolution : we mean the burn- 
ing of the King's Cutter, the Gaspee, at Naquit 
Point in Narragansett Bay. The song v\^as com- 
posed on that occasion, by whom we cannot learn, 
and was hummed and trummed ' all about the 
town.' It is worth preserving as a memorial of 
the spirit of the times. It breathes rebellion 
throughout, and must have been regarded as al- 
most treason by his Majesty's faithful subjects^ 

13* 



150 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

who were striving to earn the praise of loyalty and 
the three thousand pounds by detecting the bold 
burners of the Gaspee. 

"new song called the gaspee.* 

" ' Twas in the reign of George the Third, 
The public peace was much disturb'd, 
By ships of war that came and laid, 
Within our ports to stop our trade. 

In seventeen hundred and seventy-two, 
In Newport harbor lay a crew 
That play'd the parts of pirates there, 
The sons of Freedom could not bear. 

Sometimes they'd weigh, and give them chase, 
Such actions, sure were very base ! — 
IsTo honest coasters could pass by, 
But what they would let some shot fly. 

AVhich did provoke to high degree 
Those true-born Sons of Liberty, — 
So that they could no longer bear 
Those sons of Belial staying there. 

It was not long, ere it fell out 

That William Duddingston, so stout, 

* See Note IV. at the end of the volume. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 151 

Couimander of the Gaspee tender, 
Which he has reason to remember. — 

Because, as people do assert, 
He almost met his just desert ; 
Here on the twelfth* day of last June, 
Between the hours of twelve and one — 

Did chase the sloop called the Hannah, 
Of which one Lindsay was commander — 
They dogg'd her up Providence Sound, 
And there the rascals got aground. 

The news of it flew that very day, 
That they on Naquit Point did lay ; — 
That night, about half after ten, 
Some Narragansett Indian-men, 

Being sixty-four, if I remember, 
Soon made this stout coxcomb surrender— 
And what was best of all their tricks, 
In him a hall too they did fix — 

Then set the men upon the land 
And burnt her up, we understand — 
Which thing provok'd the king so high, 
He said those men should surely die. 

So if he can but find them out. 
King George has offered very stout 

* Historians say the 9th of June. 



152 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

One thousand pounds to find out one 
That wounded Wilham Duddingston. 

One thousand more, he says he'll spare 
To those who say they Sheriffs were — 
One thousand more there doih remain 
For to find out the leader^ s name. 

Likewise one hundred pound per man, 

For any one of all the clan ; 

But let him try his utmost skill, 

I'm apt to think he never will 

Find out one of these hearts of gold, 

Though he should offer fifty fold." 

" Exquisite !" cried Alfred, ironically, as his 
brother ceased readins:. " I wonder if the music 
to which it was set were as elegant and sublime 
as the poetry of the song." 

" I care httle about that," returned Frank ; " but 
if aunt Katie will give it me, I shall prize it more 
than the most elegant modern song I ever heard." 

*' You may have it Frank," said his aunt, " and 
if I had the air to which it was sung I would 
bestow it upon Alfred." 

" Then it was not altogether an original idea 
of the Bostonians, the disQ^uisinsf themselves as 
Indians, when they made as Job Pray says, 'a big 
tea-pot of Boston harbor,' " said Ellen. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 153 

'' So it appears," returned Miss Katie, " but 
apr^opos of Job Pray, what think you, sister of its 
author's description of Newport, as contained in 
the Red Rover ?" 

*' That he intended to give us a portrait of 
Newport prior to the Rcvohition," said Mrs. 
Thornton : " for it certainly is not the Newport of 
the present day." 

" Still less does it resemble the Newport of the 
olden time," rejoined Miss Thornton, '' if what 
historians, and our aged people tell us be true, 
that Newport was then a far more wealthy, com- 
mercial, flourishing and important place than it 
ever has been since, or probably ever will be again. 
That it was much larger and more populous than 
now is very certain— as its inhabitants amounted 
to more than twelve thousand — and the number 
of dwelling houses destroyed by the British to 
nine hundred* — only one hundred less than they 
left standing — to say nothing of the manufac» 
tories, wharves and warehouses they demolished. 
I certainly do not mean to set up for a critic con- 
tinued Miss Katie smiling, " but although I have 
passed my life in Newport, I assure you I did 

* Dr. W house's statement. 



154 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

not recognize my native place when I met with it 
in the Red Rover." 

The conversation was here interrupted by Alfred, 
who, placing two drawings before his avmt, said, 
*' After bestowing the Gaspee song on Francis you 
will not refuse to give me these, aunt Katie, lest I 
accuse you of partiality. It is a view of Lily 
Pond." 

<' Take it, Alfred," replied Miss Katie, " the 
rather, because if the fog continues you cannot 
enjoy the walk thither which I intended to propose 
for this afternoon — since your mother will not be 
persuaded, I find, to prolong her visit beyond the 
week." 

*' I need not assure you that I would do so with 
pleasure, Catharine, were it not for my repugnance 
to a longer suspension of my son's studies. Next 
year, however, we will avail ourselves of the col- 
lege vacation when we can remain with you lon- 
ger," said Mrs. Thornton ; " but let me see the 
sketch Alfred. I have heard several of the ladies 
here speak of the beauties of Lily Pond." 

** There is no walk around the environs of 
Newport, that I think more agreeable than that 
which conducts to Lily Pond, " observed Miss 
Thornton." It is a retired and beautiful spot ; in 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 155 

the early part of summer especially, the scenery 
is delightful. The rocky promontory of which I 
have there attempted a humble imitation, being 
then carpeted with an innumerable variety of 
field flowers and completely fringed with wild 
roses — while the surface of the little lake is nearly 
covered with beautiful water-lilies both blue and 
white, from the great profusion of which, the place 
takes its name. The air at this season is literally 
"redolent of sweets," while numerous singino- birds 
and water-fowl enliven the scene with their rich 
plumage and varied melody." 

"Really aunt Katie," cried Ellen "such a de- 
scription is little calculated to reconcile us to re- 
maining within doors. " I depend on the fog to 
do that," returned Miss Thornton, '• but Lily Pond 
is in fact my favourite haunt." 

"But you have not yet told me that I should 
have this other drawing, my dear aunt " exclaimed 
Alfred. " Do not refuse me this. I should so much 
like to show it my friends at home. It is the 
funeral car of the hero of Erie, dear mother." 

"Yes Katie, pray give us this," said Mrs. Thorn- 
ton eagerly, extending her hand to receive it. " It 
will be indeed a prize to us, who have never 
before seen a drawing of it," 



15G VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" Certainly," replied her sister " and the sketch 
is a correct one 1 believe, though roughly done. Is- 
there not a description attached to the drawing", 
Alfred ? I think I remember cutting it from the 
newspaper." 

*-Read it aloud my son," said Mrs. Thornton ; 
"every thing that relates to Perry must be interest- 
ing to all true-hearted Americans." 

" It is a description of the funeral ceremonies 
I believe," replied Alfred, and seating himself he 
commenced reading aloud. 

FROM THE NEWPORT MERCURY. 

" The remains of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, 
brought hither by order of Government in the 
U. S. Ship Lexington, Captain Shubrick, from the 
Island of Trinidad, were re-interred in this town 
on Monday Dec. 4th 1826, in a manner appropri- 
ate to his worth and expressive of the affectionate 
remembrance entertained of him by his fellow- 
citizens of the town and State. — At ten o'clock 
His Excellency, Governor Fenner and Major 
General Carpenter, accompanied by their aids, 
arrived from Providence attended by a number of 
civil and military ofheers and respectable citizens 
from the north and middle counties of the State, 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 157 

and by six independent military companies from 
Providence and Pawtucket. Two independent 
companies from Bristol arrived at the same hour. 
A number of naval officers from New York and 
Boston were likewise present. The procession of 
boats bearing theremains of the commodore, attend- 
ed by the officers and a detachment of seamen from 
the ship, reached Clarke's Wharf at half past 11 
o'clock, where the marine procession was met by the 
Committee of Arrangements, and the remains of 
the hero received by the United States' troops 
and marines, united in one corps for the service ; 
when the coffin being borne from the boat was 
placed on the car constructed for the occasion, 
which was emblematically ornamented and drawn 
by four white horses — the car, canopy and plumes 
being all of black. The coffin was covered with 
an ensign on which was placed the naval hat and 
epaulettes of the deceased, together with the sword 
which had been presented to the hero by the city 
of Philadelphia in honor of his victory. At 
twelve the procession began to move in the fol- 
lowing order : — 

Three marshals abreast on horseback. 
The military escort consisting of ten companies 

14 



158 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

in complete uniforms, with arms reversed, 

drums muffled and colors furled. 

The Garde de Corps consisting of U. S. troops 

and marines. 

The Reverend Clergy of different denominations. 

Officiating Clergyman. 

Eight U. S. seamen as Under-bearers, and one 

seaman bearing a broad pendant furled. 

Captains 1 The (' Captains 

Kearny, I Remains with six I Turner, 

Chauncey ( Captains Commandant, j Shubrick, 

Crane. J as Pall Bearers. [ Creighton. 

Relatives of the deceased Hero. 

Committee of Arrangements and Marshals. 

U. S. seaman bearing an ensign supported by 

two others. 

Officers of the U. S. navy. 

U. S. seamen, four abreast. 

Officers of the army. 

Militia of the State and vicinity in uniform. 

State Sheriffs and Deputies. 

Banner of Rhode Island, borne by a Revolutionary 

soldier. 
Governor and Lieut. Governor of the State, attend- 
ed by their Aids. 
Members of the Senate of Rhode Island. 
General officers of the State. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 159 

Members of the House of Representatives. 

Society of the Cincinnati. 

Marine Society of Newport. 

Town Council, Treasurer and Clerk, preceded by 

the Town Sergeant. 

Judges of the State Courts. 

Marshal of the District of Rhode Island, and 

Deputies. 

District Judge, Attorney, Clerk. 

Custom House Officers. 

Foreign Consuls. 

Citizens and Strangers, supported by Marshals. 

When the head of the procession reached the 
place of interment the escort opened to the right and 
left, and the procession passed through the lines 
to the grave — the troops then formed themselves 
into a hollow square around. After the funeral 
services had been performed three vollies were 
fired over the grave. Minute guns were fired by 
the Lexington frigate during the procession of 
boats to the shore — when the ship ceased, and the 
firing commenced at Fort Wolcott. Half-hour 
guns were fired by the revenue cutter from sun- 
rise to sunset, and the bells of all the churches con- 
tinued tolling during the solemnities. The 



IGO VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

colors of all the vessels and the standards at the 
forts were displayed at half-mast through the day. 
An immense concourse of citizens and strangers 
lined the streets, and the windows were crowded 
with female faces whose tears testified their deep 
interest in the solemnities. No error or confu- 
sion occurred to mar the decent order of ar- 
ranjrement — no noise to disturb the solemn service 

for the dead. The funeral solemnities are 

allowed to have been the most imposing and af- 
fecting ever witnessed in this State, and far exceed- 
ed in solemnity the funeral ceremonies of the 
French admiral who was interred here in 1780. 

The funeral car on which the remains of the 
much lamented " Hero of Erie" were conveyed to 
their interment, having been universally admired 
deserves a particular description. It was design- 
ed by, and constructed under the direction of a 
gentleman of this town. It was made to resemble 
as nearly as possible the boat, or gig, in which 
the gallant Perry left his sinking ship, during the 
battle of Erie — painted black and elevated on 
carriage wheels. On its stern appeared the name 
of tiie flag-ship " Lawrence," with thirteen stars 
above it, and standing on a globe at the prow a 
golden spread eagle. The car was surmounted 




'fT^ ^'n tD ^fT^ 



«*^^tti^s^^ '- ^ -*«^^'^fe:5v^ 



Funeral (\jr of Ihc Hero (tl f'rric 

InLerred at Kvn'liort Ib'^O 



( 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 161 

by a canopy supported by four ornamented pillars, 
the whole covered with black velvet richly fringed. 
Twenty-four golden stars around the top of the 
canopy represented the several States. The 
canopy was ornamented with rich sable plumes." 
Newport Mercury, Dec. 26th, 1826. 

Turning the paper as he finished reading. Alfred 
discovered some printed verses which he had not 
before observed. " These lines are beautiful," he 
said. " I never saw them before. ' Will you 
give me these likewise, aunt Katie ?" 

" Alfred, you are unconscionable," said his 
mother, laughing, as Miss Katie with her wonted 
readiness to oblige, granted his request. " But let 
us hear the lines my son," added Mrs. Thornton, 
and in compliance with her request Alfred read 
the following beautiful 

" Lines," 

" On the removal of the remains of Commodore 
O. H. Perry, " the Hero of Erie," from the Island 
of Trinidad, to be interred in his native town of 
Newport, R. I. 

(from the NORFOLK HERALD.) 

14* 



162 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

LINES. 

Tis well — tis right ! he should not sleep 

Upon a foreign strand, 
Beyond the wild and mournful deep, 

But in his native land. 

His native land, that boists his birth, 

And cherishes the fame, 
Of one whose high heroic worth 

Does honor to her name. 

Nor should that city, fond as fair, 

Embrace him all alone, 
But it should be Columbia's care ^ 

To claim him for her own. 

And she should lay her warrior down 

By Erie's conscious wave ; 
The shore that witness'd his renown 

Would yield him fittest grave. 

There set the stone — let laurels grow 

Around it — fairest flowers. 
And grave these words — '' We've met the foe." 

What else 1 — " and they are ours." 

''Are they not beautiful?" exclaimed Alfred. 
" Do you know the author, aunt Katie ?" 

" NOj" replied his aunt " they appeared anony- 
mously — but where are you going sister ?" 



II 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 163 

"To look for my children," answered Mrs. 
Thornton, who had for some time been growing 
uneasy at their prolonged absence, and who now 
left the room to seek them. Miss Katie and Ellen 
followed her, leaving the young gentlemen to 
themselves. Mrs. Thornton's disquietude was 
quickly dispelled by finding the children with 
Mrs. Guthrie, who was regaling them with pastry 
and sweetmeats in her own apartment. Edward 
was seated on the centre of the carpet diligently 
employed in scooping the contents of a minced 
pie from its crust, while Emma, resting with both 
elbows on the lap of Mrs. Guthrie, and with her 
soft blue eyes fixed on the venerable countenance 
of the worthy matron, was forgetting her sweet- 
meats in the intensity of interest with which she 
was listening to "the pretty stories of old times," 
as she called the anecdotes which the old lady 
was relatins: of the Revolution. 

"Oh sister Ellen, are you not glad that we did 
not live in those dreadful times, when the first 
people of Newport were glad to get a piece of 
horse-meat to eat ?" cried Edward, as he shovelled 
diligently away at the pie he was disembowelling. 

" Oh mamma," cried Emma, springing to meet 
her fond parent, " Mrs. Guthrie says that the Eng- 



164 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA, 

lish used to take away peoples' cows and sheep 
for their own dinner, and would only let the Ameri- 
cans have such things as were too bad for their 
own troops to eat. And Mrs. Guthrie's father 
was obliged to keep his cow in the house in a 
little bed-room for fear the English soldiers would 
steal her ; and mamma, he had to make a garden in 
his parlor chamber, because they robbed him 
of all he could raise in his garden. So he carried 
earth up stairs and covered his floor a foot deep, 
and planted it for a garden."* 

" And they used to carry off peoples' papas and 
brothers to prison just when they pleased mother," 
said Edward. " And one day when Mrs. Guthrie 
was going along she met a file of soldiers carrying 
her own brother to the prison of the provost, just 
for nothing at all only to plague them because he 
was an American ; and when Mrs. Guthrie cried 
and begged to speak to him and to kiss him once 
more, they pointed their bayonets at her and drove 
her away." 

<•' And one night mamma, added Emma," when 
an honest farmer was standing at his own door, 
some of the soldiers fired at him for a mark and 

• A fact. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 165 

shot him dead, just for fnn. Mrs. Guthrie says 
his name was Martin, and he lived at Canonicut ; 
and there is Canonicut, mamma — that pretty green 
island behind Fort Wolcott," continued the little 
girl, pointing from a window that opened to the 
west. 

" Do tell mamma about it, if you please Mrs. 
Guthrie," cried Edward ; 'Hell her how the British 
commanders Wall is and Askew used to frighten 
the people by drawing up their fleet to fire upon 
the town, when every body was obliged to run 
into the cellars to get away from the cannon balls. 
It is a very pretty story mamma, and every word 
of it true.'''' 

" Oh, but sister," cried Emma, " the great Count 
Rochambeau used to wear a muff, just as the 
ladies do, you know — a great black muff ; only 
think how droll ! a man with a muff! And when 
he rode sometimes parading his troops, he had 
running footmen, all dressed in white with beau- 
tiful plumes nodding in their caps, to run before 
his horse. How I wish that time would come 
back aofain that I mio^ht see him. 

"But that was after the French and Americans 
had driven the British away," interrupted Edward, 
" and that was a good time mamma, cmd a great 



166 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

many grand balls and dinners were given by the 
ladies and gentlemen of Newport and the officers 
of the American and French armies. 

« And Mrs. Guthrie was a little girl then mam- 
ma, and some of the Frenchmen used to give her 
nice cakes, pies and sweetmeats, and sugar-plums, 
because the French are very fond of children," 
said Emma. 

" Well but they are the drollest men for all that, 
mamma," cried Edward, for when they met their 
friends in the street they used to stop and kiss 
each other on both cheeks, as we Americans shake 
hands when we are glad to see each other. How 
funny it must look mamma? Just as if grand-papa 
and old Major Kingston should kiss one another 
when they meet ! How I ivish they would, it would 
look so droll !" added Edward. " Don't you think 
the French have queer ways, mamma ?" 

" By no means, my dear, our customs would 
appear as singular to many other nations as theirs 
do to us," said Mrs. Thornton, for the first time 
obtaining an opportunity to speak. 

"But mamma, Mrs. Guthrie has been telhngus 
a pretty story about some Indian tribes, who came 
here to pay a visit to the great Generals Washing- 
ton and Rochambeau," said Edward, " and they 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 167 

had a mock fight and cried the war-whoop to show 
those great men their fashion of fighting ; and 
their bodies were painted all over, mamma, like 
the ancient Britons you know ; and they wore 
only blankets instead of clothes ; and besides the 
medals of silver with Washington upon them, 
which they all wear, they had rings in their noses 
and ears, and thimbles which somebody had given 
them they wore for ornaments on their toes ! O 
dear ! I am sure I should have killed myself with 
lauo^hino: if I had seen them." 

" But, mamma, I do like those French people 
who helped us beat the naughty English," cried 
little Emma. 

" Nay, the English were not half so bad as the 
Hessians sister," returned Edward, as he resumed 
his employment with the remains of his pie, " for 
Mrs. Guthrie says they tried to do us harm every 
way. Why, mamma, a Hessian woman took 
pains to give the small-pox to Mrs. Guthrie's little 
sister, on purpose to destroy the family, and then 
the poor little baby was obliged to be carried out 
of town, and when it died in its poor mother's 
arms no living creature was with her — and when 
they found out it was dead, they came with a 
wheel -barrow, and it was carried off without any 



1G8 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

coiFiii at all, and put into a hole in the ground, 
just as if it were a little dead kitten. Don't you 
think its poor mother must have felt very bad, 
mamma ?" 

"Very bad indeed," replied Mrs. Thornton, when 
the children had thus talked themselves out of 
breath. " But since Mrs. Guthrie has been so in- 
dulgent to you, you must not kill her with so much 
noise. Thank her for the amusing stories she has 
told you, and come away with me, or I am afraid 
she will never be desirous of your company 
again." 

Having obeyed her instructions, the children 
were now conducted to another apartment, in- 
quiring of their aunt in a whisper, as they went, 
'' if all the pretty stories Mrs. Guthrie had told 
them were true ?"* 

" Certainly," answered Miss Katie, " Mrs. Guth- 
rie is too good a woman to deceive any one. You 
may rest assured that she has not told you a word 
more tlian the truth." 

Mr. Thornton soon after returned, and dinner 
was served. During the repast, after a heavy 

* The Revolutionary incidents related as from Mrs. Guthrie, are 
strictly true, and have been taken down verbatim from the lips of 
respectable people, who were sufferers and witnesses of them all. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 160 

shower of rain, the fog dispersed and the weather 
became delicious. The ground however being 
completely saturated, was too damp to admit of 
walking, and the remainder of the day was passed 
at home." 



15 



CHAPTER YII. 

Visits — A dinner party — The young traveller and fat gentleman — 
Conversation respecting Newport — Its eminent characters — Ex- 
cursion to Overing House and White-hall — Anecdote of Dean 
Berkeley, &c. 

The following day being extremely fine, and also 
the last which they now expected to pass in New- 
port, Mrs. Thornton devoted the morning to the 
paying of farewell visits to the friends of the fam- 
ily — a circle which, though not very extensive, 
comprised the best society of Newport. Company 
being expected at dinner, and Mr. Thornton never 
allowing of the slightest deviation from his old- 
fashioned dinner hour of one o'clock, the ladies' 
visits were necessarily short, from which, however, 
Mrs. Thornton derived so much satisfaction as 
made her regret the shortness of her stay, which 
prevented her from cultivating the many agreeable 
acquaintances she had formed. Most of the ladies 
she called on were found occupied at their needles, 



VISIT TO GKAND-PATA. 171 

but instead of hurrying tlieir work aside as if they 
had been detected in something disgracefnl, they 
generahy, with a shght apology, quietly pursued 
their employment, while with imaffected polite- 
ness, and a friendliness of manner that charmed 
her, they received and entertained their visitors. 
The simplicity of their dress, was also another 
charm in the eyes of so judicious an observer. In 
no instance could she discover a sacrifice of 
delicacy to fashion, or an effort to appear fine — 
the dress being generally a gown of gingham, or 
at most of snow white cambric, fitted closely to 
the form, without pretension to ornament of any 
kind. The non-appearance of a mamma or sister, 
was in more than one instance accounted for by 
the simple statement, that she was making cake, or 
" starching her caps ;" and Mrs. Thornton, who 
had always moved amongst the fashionable circles 
of a luxurious metropolis, was scarcely more de- 
lighted with the attention of the abseritees to their 
domestic duties, than with the ingenuousness of 
their apologists, who were superior to the silly, 
yet too common artifice of attempting to disguise 
what could only redound to their honor. The 
drawings, books and music that were scattered 
about the centre tables and apartments, in the mean- 



172 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

lime, evinced that a love of the fine arts, and the 
pursuits of literature were by no means incompa- 
tible with a strict attention to the avocations of 
domestic life, which is the' sphere of woman's 
usefulness, and the province in which, however 
exalted her station, she ever shines the most. 

In reply to the encomiums of Mrs. Thornton, 
on the manners and characters of the Newport 
ladieSj to which Miss Katie listened for some time 
in silence, she at length replied, " Ah, my dear 
Elinor ! you have seen the bright side of the 
picture only. There are, 1 grieve to say, some 
would-be fashionables among us, who, devoting 
their attention to the adornment of the casket 
have miserably neglected the jewel it contains. 
Those, however, who endeavor to supply the de- 
ficiencies of intellectual culture and solid worth, by 
an affectation of high to7i, and an extravagance of 
exterior ornament, are comparatively few, and the 
evil may in every instance, I believe, be traced 
back to the misfortune of having been early de- 
prived of maternal care, or other similar causes of 
a defective education. It is a mortifying fact, 
however, that some of our ladies do dress and live 
in a style far beyond their means. But there are 
exceptions to every rule, you know, and instead 



VISIT TO GRAND-PATA. 173 

of being surprised that such instances do some- 
times occur, I only rejoice that they do not occur 
more frequently." 

" But surely there are no such instances in your 
circle, my dear Katie — at least not among those 
whom we have visited to-day," said Mrs. Thorn- 
ton. 

" Certainly not," returned her sister : " for you 
have only visited among our intimate friends, and 
we neither maintain nor desire an intimacy with 
people whom we cannot respect or esteem. I 
seldom, therefore, extend my visits beyond the 
circle to which I was at first introduced by my 
beloved mother, who was a woman of superior 
intellect and education, and acknowledged worth. 
The circle of acquaintance and friends selected 
by such a person therefore as might be expected, 
comprises not the most wealthy, perhaps, but un- 
questionably the most virtuous and cultivated 
part of our community." 

This conversation brought them to the door, but 
not until they had had the mortification of hearing 
the important hour of one knolled from every 
steeple in town. Accordingly on entering the 
house, they found their guests already assembled 
in the drawing-room. The party consisted of 

15* 



174 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Col. Hardy, his lady, and two other friends, and 
two strangers who had just arrived bringing letters 
of introduction to Mr. Thornton. One of them 
was a young gentleman of prepossessing appear- 
ance and agreeable manners, who having recently 
returned from his travels in Europe, was now 
making the tour of the "Union." His companion, 
a fat, round-about gentleman, with a broad-good- 
natured, stupid kind of countenance, was a tra- 
veller likewise, in his icay — being as he informed 
them, an annual visitant of Rhode-Island, where 
he usually passed the summer months, in order 
to indulge his European propensities in feasting 
on the " delicious fish," a vast variety of which is 
found at this season in the market. Frank and 
Alfred were extremely diverted by the rapturous 
manner in which the old gentleman (for he was 
considerably advanced in years,) expatiated on the 
exquisite flavor of a fine Totaug, than which he 
solemnly averred that '' Lucullus himself could 
not have boasted a greater dainty, nor Apicius have 
invented more luxurious modes of dressino; it than 
were practised by the ingenious epicures of Rhode- 
Island." 

" The attention of the " fat gentleman" was, 
however, by no means confined to the highly 



I 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 175 

eulogized Totaiig, but was divided with the most 
praise-worthy impartiality, and with seemingly 
equal good appetite among all the viands placed 
before him — while he at the same time favored 
the company with a somewhat prolix harangue on 
the peculiar merits of each dish, as he partook of 
it, eifectually preventing all reference to other 
subjects by engrossing the conversation himself, 
until, with the disappearance of the more substan- 
tial condiments, his vivacity and volubility vanish- 
ed also. That "the Newport market afforded 
more than seventy different kinds of exquisite 
fish" was the amount of information he had im- 
parted, when on the appearance of the dessert, he 
relapsed at once into taciturnity, leaving his com- 
panions at liberty to discuss other matters, beside 
the " most approved method of dressing and eating 
fish." Mrs. Thornton, though she never coun- 
tenanced invidious remarks on the failings of 
others, was not, on the whole, sorry to perceive 
the disgust with which her children had listened 
to this avowed votary of the " Gastronomic Art." 
Mr. Thornton availed himself immediately of 
the first opportunity allowed him, of draiving- onfy 
as the phrase is, the interesting young traveller, 
from whom much information was now elicited, 



176 VISIT TO GRAND-rAPA. 

relative to the civil and natural geography of the 
various countries he had visited. Being however 
as eager to acquire information as he was willing 
to impart it, the young stranger soon changed the 
subject, and began making some pertinent inqui- 
ries respecting the once flourishing city of which 
he was now for the first time a visitant. " He had 
been struck," he said, ''by the appearance of 
decay, which pervaded a great part of the place, 
at which he was the more surprised on ac- 
count of the unrivalled natural advantages it 
possessed in favor of extensive commerce ; and 
the great influx of strangers who annually resort 
to the place in pursuit of health, and for the 
enjoyment of its salubrious climate," and he in- 
quired to what cause Mr. Thornton attributed its 
decline. 

"Many causes had combined to produce the 
melancholy change," Mr. Thornton replied, ad- 
ding : — '' No city in the provinces, perhaps, having 
suflered more from the desolations of war during 
the Revolution. At the termination of that war, 
however, it was incorporated, and governed in a 
very respectable manner^ by its Mayor, Aldermen 
and Common Council : but all this was too 
good to be lasting. Party-spirit rose to a great 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 177 

heio^ht, and public fraud and paper-currency lent 
their pernicious aid to the total subversion of these 
beneficial regulations. Then came the Abolition 
of the Slave-trade," continued Mr. Thornton, 
"in which (to our shame be it spoken,) many of 
our commercial men were deeply engaged. The 
Legislature passed a law, prohibiting ships from 
going to Africa for slaves, or selling them in the 
West-Indies, and making the oath of one seaman, 
belonging to such ship, a sufficient evidence of 
the fact. And however humanity must ever ap- 
plaud and rejoice at such an Act, it must be ac- 
knowledged that our commercial interests have 
suffered severely in consequence of it." 

" But," observed the young stranger, " the re- 
sort of so many strangers to your town must put 
much money in circulation." 

" Unquestionably," returned Mr. Thornton, 
" and the proprietors of our large hotels and pri- 
vate boarding-houses, obtain a handsome remun- 
eration for the accommodations they provide. Our 
confectioners, barbers, soda-shops, and bowling- 
alleys, likewise thrive by them. But, sir," con- 
tinued Mr. Thornton, waxing warm on thesubject, 
" though it is advantageous to individuals, I am 
by no means certain, that to the community at 



178 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

large, this influx of strangers to our town is so 
very beneficial." 

" In what possible way, my dear sir, can it ope- 
rate otherwise ?" asked Col. Hardy. 

" Why, sir, they bring money and gaiety to our 
town, it is true," rejoined Mr. Thornton . " but 
they have also introduced among us, what, in the 
opinion of an old-fashioned man like me, is a very 
serious evil ; I mean an expensive style of living, and 
a too great fondness for convivial entertainments. 
We are very apt to imbibe the habits and manners 
of those with whom we associate, you know, and 
as most of tliese strangers are men of opulence, 
accustomed to luxurious living, and as none of our 
community are immensely rich, 1 consider the 
intercourse which insensibly leads us to extrav- 
agance as rather detrimental than otherwise." 

" But how does it happen, sir," enquired the 
young traveller, " that none of your gentlemen of 
fortune have turned their attention to manu- 
factories ? There are factories, I believe, in most 
of your other towns — why not make a manufac- 
turing place of Newport ?" 

" I have often wondered that our men of wealth 
do not more frequently turn their capital into that 
channel, which would I think, be lucrative," re- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 179 

I 

turned Mr. Thornton. "A large establishment 
was some years since got up for the manufacture 
of duck, but was soon relinquished. We have, 
however, three factories* recently erected, for the 
making of cotton cloth, and I see no obstacle to 
their success." 

" Well !" exclaimed Col. Hardy, who having 
been long stationed at Newport, had become ex- 
ceedingly attached to the place, "though I cannot 
avouch the people of tliis town to be the most com- 
mercial and manufacturing community in the 
country, I dare aver, that better and more well- 
informed society does not exist in America, than 
little Newport may boast of." 

''Such is its reputation abroad, sir," replied a 
gentleman of Newport, who sat opposite, bowing 
across the table. " Whether it be merited or not 
we must leave others to decide." 

" I rather think it is merited sir," exclaimed tho 
fat gentleman, abruptly, " they are good livers — ■ 
and I think their great skill in cooker]/ proves them 
to be a very intelligent people." 

This speech excited a general smile, for every 
one had supposed the good gentleman to be fast 

* There are now several factories in successful operation here. 



ISO VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

asleep a moment before he spoke, as he certainly 
was in two minutes after. 

<' They/eec? well, you should say, "returned 
Mr. Thornton, laughing ; " but I fear we scarcely 
live as well as we might, and ought. I believe 
we must allow something too for my friend Hardy's 
partiality." 

" Not a whit," interrupted the Col. warmly ; " I 
do them bare justice. 

" WeU then, we will not dispute the point," 
returned Mr. Thornton, "but if we are a more 
literary, and in any respect a better informed 
people than some of our neighbors, it is because 
we have possessed superior advantages. Let 
us '-give honor where honor is due;" our com- 
munity are in the first place greatly indebted to 
the founder of the Redwood Library, which, as a 
certain elegant writer asserts,* " sowed the seeds 
of the sciences among us, and rendered the in- 
habitants of Newport, if not a more learned^ yet 
a better read and more inquisitive people, than 
that of any other town in the tJieii British Pro- 
vinces" There is also another circumstance," 
continued Mr. Thornton, '• which served to in- 

♦ Dr. W house of Boston, 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 181 

ber of eminent and learned men, who at different 
periods have made our Island their permanent 
residence." 

The young traveller making- some inquiries 
respecting the eminent characters alluded to, 
drew from Mr. Thornton a hasty enumeration of 
the most celebrated men who had been born, 
mirtured, or who had resided at Newport. 

He began with her heroes. " General Nathaniel 
Greene," he said, " who, as a military commander 
during the Revolution, ranked second only to 
Washington, was a native of Warwick, the capital 
of Kent county in this state, and resided many 
years v/ith his family in this town. Oliver H. 
Perry, tiie Hero of Erie, one of the greatest naval 
commanders America ever produced, was born 
and educated in Newport, and here his remains 
having been brought from Trinidad were con- 
signed to their last repose, Dec. 182G ; a handsome 
monument has since been erected to his memory. 
Amono^ the most eminent theologfians were Dr. 
Arthur Browne, who was born and educated at 
Newport, and died President of Trinity College, 
Dublin. Dr. Samuel Hopkins the venerable 
founder of the sect of Hopkinsians, vv^as a man of 
unfeigned piety and eminent metaphysical talents, 

16 



182 



VISIT TO GRArfD-PAPA. 



who passed most of his useful Hfe at Newport, and 
died here pastor of the first Congregational church. 
Dr. Ezra Styles, thirty years pastor of the Second 
Congregational church at Newport, died President 
of Yale College in New Haven. Dean, afterwards 
Bishop Berkeley, resided at Newport and in its 
vicinity several years, and is supposed to have 
written most of his great work during that time. 
The Reverend John Cullender, author of a history 
of Rhode-Island, and whose '• Century Sermon'' 
has acquired so much celebrity, was the pastor of 
a Baptist church in this place. The Rev. William 
E. Channing, D.D. of Boston, is likewise a native of 
Newport, as was his grand-father the late William 
Ellery, a Senator of the United States in the first 
Congress, and one of the signers of the Constitution. 
Mr. Abraham Redwood, founder of the public 
Library, though born at Antigua, resided here from 
early infancy. Mr. Harrison the architect of Red- 
wood Library was also a resident of Newport. 
The celebrated pedestrian traveller, Stewart, pas- 
sed much of his life here ; and the late Baron 
Kinsale of Ireland, was a native of Newport.* 
Newport," continued Mr. Thornton, " has likewise 
produced some eminent medical men, among 
whom were the late Dr. Isaac Senter and Dr. 

• Vide Note V. at the end of the volume. 



J^ 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 183 

William Hunter, who delivered in the Court- 
house in this town the first public Lectures on 
Anatomy, Physiology and Surgery ever given in 
America, and this previous to the existence of ttie 
Medical School at Philadelphia. In the Fine Arts 
Rhode Island has produced the celebrated Stewart. 
Edward Malbone a young artist of very promising 
talents, but who died a few years since, and Mr. 
Charles King, now a resident at Washington, were 
both born at Newport. Mr. Washington AUston 
the celebrated poet and painter resided some years, 
and was if I mistake not educated at Newport — 
and we now boast Mr. Wall, the celebrated lands- 
cape painter, as a resident of our town; he is I believe 
a native of Ireland." The conversation in which 
the rest of the party had been much interested, 
was at this juncture interrupted by the abrupt de- 
parture of the " Fat Gentleman," which by re- 
minding the other guests of their respective after- 
noon engagements occasioned the breaking up of 
the party. When all the guests with the excep- 
tion of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, had taken leave, Mr. 
Thornton observing a bank of fog hovering on 
the verge of the southern horizon, and fearing that 
its approach on the morrow would prevent 
their projected excursion round the island, pro- 



184 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

posed availing themselves of the remainder of so 
fine an afternoon and securing their antici- 
pated enjoyment immediately. A proposal 
to which, as it was yet early, and there was a 
moon, the whole party joyfully acceded. Cato 
was instantly dispatched for carriages, and they 
soon set off — driving however with a rapidity 
which precluded the possibility of any thing like 
regular conversation, except when Mr. Thornton 
stopped the carriages to point out such objects as 
he deemed worthy of particular attention, such as 
the country seats which previous to the Revolu- 
tion had been very elegant villas — those of Bow- 
ler, Bannister, Malboneand Redwood having been 
the most elegant, but which at present appear 
little better than farm-houses. On the summit of 
Quaker Hill, where stands the meeting-house 
whence it derives its name, Mr. Thornton also 
stopped that they might enjoy the most extensive 
prospect the Island affords. The pleasant towns 
of Bristol, Warwick, Kingston and Greenwich, 
and even the spires of Providence thirty miles 
distant, were distinctly visible. (Quaker Hill was 
the scene of a bloody battle between the Ameri- 
cans under Gen. Sullivan, and the British who 
were at that time in possession of Newport, and 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 185 

who were repulsed in the action and driven back 
to their lines.* The remains of numerous intrench- 
ments thrown up at that period in various parts 
of the Island, attracted the attention of the young 
people during their drive. On their way the 
whole party alighted at Overing-House, a very 
agreeable country seat at Portsmouth and about 
five miles from Newport, where they were politely 
received by the proprietor (with whom Mr. Thorn- 
ton had some acquaintance) — and had the satisfac- 
tion of visitinof the chamber where the EnHish 
General Prescott was sleeping, very little prepared 
for a night-march, when he received the unex- 
pected visit of Col. Barton. 

" Edward," said Mr. Thornton, as his grandson 
was sitting on his knee beside the window, " If 
you will tell me at what time, and in what manner 
Colonel Barton captured the English General, I 
will afterwards point out to you the direction in 
which they took him across the fields to the shore. 
Frank read the narrative from the American 
History for you to day — did he not ?" 

"Yes sir," replied Edward, "it was on the 
evening of the 10th of July ] 777 ^ that Colonel 

♦ See Note VI. 

16* 



186 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Barton* came with a party of chosen men in two 
boats, having the oars muffled, and passing down 
the west side of the Island very quietly and 
cautiously, for fear of alarming the British water- 
guards and sentinels. He landed with his men 
near a hollow ground, and made his way directly 
to the house of Mr. Overing, where the English 
General quartered." 

'' He landed yonder," observed the gentleman 
of the house, pointing from the window, " but go 
on young gentleman. What did the Colonel do 
next ?" He seized the sentinel at the door sir, 
and came into the house, having with him a black 
man named Prince among his own men, and 
findinsf the door of the Eno^lishman's chamber 
locked, the black man broke it open by striking 
his head against it — and the English General was 
carried off by them to Warwick Neck, and next 
day taken to Providence in a chariot. And now 
sir, please to show me the way they took him?" 

" You deserve it my little man," observed the 
gentleman " for telling the story so handsomely 
and correctly," "there, young gentleman, they 
took him across those fields opposite the house, and 

* See Note VII. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 187 

hurried him half dressed as he was to the boats 
that were waiting for him — and now tell me what 
you think of Col. Barton and his men." 

"I think they were all very brave sir," replied 
Edward, "and I am sure one of them had a 
fainous hard lieadP 

" You may well call it so, my dear," returned 
the gentleman, laughing, '• since he was indebted 
to the hardness of his head for his fa??ie — and he 
now figures in history." 

" I dare say sir, that the Englishman wished it 
had been softer," added little Ned, as his grand-fa- 
ther rose and led the way down stairs. Mr. Thorn- 
ton was obliged to take a hasty leave of the family 
at Overing-House, in order to gratify the young 
people who were very desirous of visiting White- 
hall, the seat of the celebrated Bishop Berkeley. 
As they approached the unpretending dwelling 
which had once been the home of that great and 
good man, little Emma, in a tone of disappoint- 
ment exclaimed, " Oh dear ! I think they had 
better call it black hall, for there is not a speck 
of white about it. It is a dismal looking place 
grand-papa — and I think it a very ugly house for 
a great man to live in." 

" Great men do not always live in elegant 



188 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

houses my dear," said Colonel Hardy, in reply to 
her remark, which her grand-father did not hear, 
being engaged in conversation with Mrs. Hardy, 
" the greatest geniuses, and the best of men have 
often passed their lives in miserable hovels, my 
httle girl." 

" But why is it called Whitehall, when it is so 
black, sir?" asked Edward. 

" It received its name from Bishop Berkeley my 
dear," answered the Colonel, " and was so called, 
I imagine, in honour of the Palace where the 
British King then sometimes resided." 

" Well sir, I wish they would paint it then for 
I think it looks very shabby. 

"But why does not the proprietor repair it, 
Colonel Hardy," inquired Frank ; " and to whom 
does it belong sir ?" 

<« To no individual. It was given by Bishop 
Berkeley to Yale College, I am told, of Avhich 
Institution the Bishop was a generous benefactor." 
The carriage stopped as he ceased speaking, and 
the party alighted. They were exceedingly grati- 
fied in being allowed to visit apartments which 
had been so long and often honored by the pre- 
sence of so distinguished and excellent a man — in 
walking the same floors and looking from the same 



I 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 189 

windows, Avhere he was once accustomed to move, 
and to look from. 

'• And does nobody in Newport recollect any 
anecdotes of so celebrated a person, who so long- 
resided among them !" cried Alfred. 

" Very few are now living, — perhaps 7ione," said 
Mr. Thornton, " of those who knew him person- 
ally. He lived much in retirement devoting himself 
to literary pursuits. He however sometimes preach- 
ed at Trinity church, but his life was quiet and 
unmarked by any remarkable incident while re- 
siding here. His memory is, and will ever be 
cherished with regard and veneration by the 
people of Rhode-Island, however, for he was the 
benefactor of the poor and the friend of all." 

" I recollect hearing only one person speak of 
Dean Berkeley as having been personally ac- 
quainted with him," said Miss Thornton, '^andtliat 
person was a Mrs. Br— ne, a friend of my mother'Sj 
who died at a very advanced age some twenty 
years since." 

<' You have some anecdote treasured up then, 
I'll warrant," exclaimed Colonel Hardy. " If you 
ever heard any thing of such a man you are not 
the person to have forgotten it, Miss Katie, so let 
us have it, I entreat you, however trifling it may be,'^ 



190 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

f' It 15 trifling sir," returned Miss Katie, smiling 
at the avidity with which he seemed prepared to 
receive the trivial anecdote she had to offer. "This 

Mrs. Br ne told me that the Dean was on 

terms of the most familiar friendship with her 
father and his family, and when residing at 
Whitehall he was in the habit of stopping at their 
house for refreshment, and to visit the family, 
whenever he rode to town. And when the 
weather was very cold he was accustomed play- 
fully to demand of Mrs. Br ne what he called 

his dram.^^ 

"A dram !" echoed Edward and Emma, in 
amazement, ''a good man ! and drink drams, aunt 
Katie r 

" No my dear, I never heard of his drinking 
a dram in all my life," replied Miss Katie, 
laughing, "Dean Berkeley's drams were such as 
no one could disapprove, I think. I am sure at 
least, that you and I are both very fond of them, 
though you would find it difficult to guess what 
they were, I believe." 

"Oh do tell us aunty," cried Edward, "for 
I never heard of drains before which were not 
very bad indeed." 

i^ Dean I3erkeley's, however, were very good and 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 191 

innocent, I can assure you," said Miss Thornton, 
" and he found them very comfortable on a cold 

day, as he often assured Mrs. Br ne. They 

were nothing else but gingerbread-cakes Edward, 
with a great deal of ginger in them, which makes 
them warm you know ; and these the Dean used 
jocularly to call his drams,''^* 

" Oh what a droll name for gingerbread ! I think 
he was a funny old gentleman, aunt Katie," cried 
Emma, " and I wish I had a good large slice of 
one of his drams this minute." 

" I shall always think of Dean Berkeley now, 
when I eat gingerbread," said Edward, " and I 
wish nobody would meddle with any other kind 
of drams but his." 

" Amen ! to that wish dear Ned, with all my 
heart !" exclaimed Colonel Hardy ; " but is it not 
getting late my dear sir ?" he asked, turning to Mr. 
Thornton ; "we shall be obliged to drive with great 
rapidity in order to give the young people a peep 
at Lawton's valley, where we hope to have many 
a merry pic-nic together next summer. I see 
poor Mrs. Hardy is thinking of a late return to 
Wolcott, by the anxious expression of her coun- 
tenance." 

♦ A fact related by the late Mrs. B e a respectable lady of N. 



102 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

" You are right sir," replied Mr. Thornton, 
" and we must bid adieu to Whitehall, ladies, if 
we would avoid an evening ride," and offering 
his arm to Mrs Hardy he led the way to the car- 
riages. Lawton's Valley is a pleasant little glen, 
through which flows a httle stream of water which 
crosses the Island, turning the wheels of several 
mills in its course, and being thickly overhung 
with trees and shrubbery affords a shady and 
pleasant retreat to its numerous visitors. 

Mr. Thornton allowed them but brief space to ad- 
mire its beauties before he hurried them back to the 
coach. On their route homeward he pointed out 
to them the elegant villa of the late Samuel Elam, 
an English gentleman by birth, who became a 
citizen of America, and passed the last fifty years 
of his life at this place, which had been bequeath- 
ed him by an uncle. Though Mr. Elam was a 
bachelor he lived in great splendor, at " Van- 
cliise,''^ the name which he had bestowed on his 
beautiful villa, on account of some real or fancied 
similarity between his own fate and that of the cele- 
brated Petrarch. The place still retains the name, 
although on the death of Mr. E. it passed into 
other hands, having been sold by the agent of his 
heir, who resides in England. Vaucluse is de- 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA, 193 

cidedly the most elegant country seat, at present 
on Rhode Island. 

It was so late when the party reached town that 
it was not without many apprehensions for her 
own and her husband's safety, that Mrs. Hardy 
committed herself to the barge that' was to convey 
her to Wolcott. It was in vain however that her 
friends entreated her to remain all night in town ; 
she would not be prevailed on to absent herself so 
long from her children. On the departure of Mr. 
and Mrs. Hardy, Mr. Thornton perceiving his 
young people were extremely fatigued, at an ear- 
lier hour than usual summoned his family to 
prayers, after which they were very glad to retire 
immediately to rest, which they did, however, 
with a feeling of sadness at the reflection, that it 
was the last night they should for a long time 
pass beneath the happy roof of their beloved 
grand-father. 



17 



CONCLUSION. 

On rising the following morning, Mrs. Thorn- 
ton's attention was attracted by a busy group in 
the garden. It was composed of all her children 
surrounding old Cato, under whose direction they 
appeared to be very diligently employed. In 
answer to her inquiries, she learned that they 
were thus assembled to gratify the worthy Afri- 
can, at whose request they were each planting 
with their own hands, a young tree in the little 
plat of ground appropriated exclusively to himself, 
and called "Cato's garden," that he might have 
the satisfaction of cultivating the trees, and calling 
them by the names of his young friends when they 
"Vvere absent. So touching a mark of the old 
negro's attachment to " dear Massa Harry's chil- 
dren," drew tears from the eyes of Mrs. Thornton, 
and descending immediately to the garden she 
completed the faithful old servant's gratification 
by planting one likewise, with her own hand, and 
requesting him to call it by her name. 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 195 

Alfred and Ellen had been sent early to the 
shops to procure various little articles, and all the 
children had now the satisfaction of bestowinor a 
parting gift on each of the domestics, by whom 
they were received with pride and pleasure. Mr. 
Thornton on going out for his morning walk took 
the children with him to visit the observatory, 
which commands a delightful prospect. At ten 
o'clock the whole family repaired to Fort Wolcott, 
to pay a parting visit to their friends the Hardy 
family ; but as they knew not at what hour the 
steamer in which they were to take passage for 
New York might arrive from Providence, their 
visit was necessarily a short one. 

As nothing is more painful than leave-taking, 
we intend to spare our young readers the mel- 
ancholy detail. It is indeed much easier for them 
to imagine than for us to describe the pain experi- 
enced by all parties in bidding adieu to each other 
for so long a time. Mrs. Thornton and her family 
continued on the deck of the steamer, gazing with 
tearful eyes on the receding shores until fading in 
the distance they were no longer able to discern 
the roofs and spires of the pleasant town which 
had given birth to the lamented husband and 
parent, for whose sake alone, had it possessed no 



190 VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 

Other attraction for them, they must ever have 
Joved "a city which," says Dr. Morse, "notwith- 
standing it wears the gloomy aspect of decay, is 
far-famed for the beauty of its situation, the salu- 
brity of its climate, and the politeness and hospi- 
tality of its inhabitants." That these encomiums 
are not entirely unmerited, we believe will be ac- 
knowledged by all who have ever passed anytime 
at Rhode-Island, which during his late visit to 
Newport, His Excellency John Q,. Adams (then 
our President) pronounced to be " the loveliest gem 
on the bosom of Ocean." 

We are happy to inform our young readers that 
after a pleasant little voyage, Mrs. Thornton and 
her family arrived safely at their native city, and 
were soon quietly settled in their own residence 

in street, where we are assured the young 

people are making great and rapid progress in 
their studies, and gladdening the hearts of their 
widowed mother and affectionate relatives, by 
their improvement in knowledge and virtue. 
Wishing that all our young readers may follow 
their example and thereb)^ render themselves re- 
spected, useful and happy, we will close our little 
volume with a quotation from an able living 



VISIT TO GRAND-PAPA. 197 

writer.* " Newport," he writes, " appears venerable 
in ruins. She resembles a beautiful, battered 
shield, hung up for admiration in the great hall 
of the nation. Rhode-Island may yet be restored 
to her pristine beauty, for her armorial ensign is 
a foul-anchor with the motto. 

" In te Domine spiravimus.".^ " 

* Dr. W house's Notices of the life of the late Abraham Red- 
wood of Newport. 



FINIS. 



IT 



NOTES. 



NOTE I.— p. 17. 

"tONOMT," commonly called TAMMANY HILL. 

"When Mr. William Coddinglon came to look for a place of 
settlement, he found a tribe of Indians on the Island vviiose sach- 
em was named Wonnumetonomy. His wigwam stood on a re- 
markable hill at the north part of the township of Newport. Cod- 
dington applied to the sachem to purchase the Island — whose 
answer was, that Canonicus and Miantonimo were the chief 
sachems, and that he could not sell the land. This Wonnume- 
tonomy was the resident sachem or governor of this Island under 
the Narragansett sachems. The place of his residence was cal- 
led by the English after his name, vulgarly abbreviated to Tonomy 
Hill, until about fifteen years since when it underwent a new 
corruption, and is now generally called Tammany Hill. Tonomy 
Hill may therefore be considered as having been the royjil resi- 
dence of the sachems both before and a^er the conquest of the 
Island by the Narragansetts."— from a history of rhode-island 

PUBLISHED IN THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN. 

NOTE II.— p. 23. 

The British took possession of Rhode-Island on the 6th De- 
cember 1776, and evacuated it on the 25lh October 1779, 



199 



" On Count D'Estaing's arriving at Georgia, it gave great 
alarm to the Royalists of New York, hearing an attack on that 
city was his principal view in making a second visit to the United 
States, All the outposts were called in, and Newport ordered to 
be evacuated. This took place on the 25th October 1779, (the 
anniversary of their king's coronation) having previously blown 
up the light-house at the entrance of the harbor. Their evacua- 
tion was precipitate, being under apprehensions that General 
Gates would visit the Island before they could leave it. The 
next day after they went off, Gen. Gates went on with a part of 
his force from Providence and took possession of the Island." 

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. 

NOTE III.~pp. 40, 104. 

" Rhode-Island was called Aquidnet, Aquidnay, or Aquidneck, 
by the Indians ; the name signifies " the Isle of Peace," the fol- 
lowing account of its conquest by the Narragansetts is from the 
memoir of R. I.," published in the Rhode-Island Republican be- 
fore quoted. 

" The Indians who inhabited the Island of Aquidnet, were the 
subjects of the Narragansett sachems in the most extensive sense 
of the word. Their right, was the right of entire and unconditional 
conquest. The Island was conquered sometime before the settle- 
ment of the English at New Plymouth. The time of the conquest 
is not precisely known, but the battle which terminated the war 
and decided the fate of the Aquidians is believed to have been 
fought at a place about three and a quarter miles from the state 
house in Newport, in the town of Middletown, at the ^swamp 
or low ground near the brook, or river as it was formerly called, 
a little eastward of the East-road, or road leading to Bristol 
ferry. The traditional account of this battle has been handed 
down from a physician who lived near the spot more than an 



200 

hundred years since, whose name was Dr. Garret, and who must 
have had it from the Indians themselves, or from them through 
the old people then living, whose memory carried them back, to 
the first settlement of the Island by the English. The Aquidian 
fleet first encountered the Narragansetts in a sea-fight and were 
overcome, routed and vanquished. At the before-mentioned 
place the Aquidians collected the renmant of their warriors and 
tribe, commanded by their sachem in person, to make the last 
struggle in defence of their country and lives. The Narragan- 
setts surrounded their camp, attacked them on all sides, and killed 
their sachems, routed and slew their warriors, and completed their 
conquest. The survivors then submitted themselves and lands 
to their conquerors and became their tributaries. Wonnumetonomy 
(the sachem before mentioned) is supposed to have been the son 
and heir of the sachem killed in the battle aforesaid — and to have 
submitted himself, his tribe, and his lands to the Narragansetts." 

NOTE IV.— p. 150. 

" The King's armed schooner Gaspee, having been troublesome 
to the trade of Rhode-Island, they burnt her June 9th 1772." — 
Massachusetts Historical Collections, 

" The cruiser sloop of war. Captain Howe, arrived at Boston 
in December, bringing a Commission under the Great Seal of 
England, appointing Joseph Wanton, of Rhode-Island, Daniel 
Horsemander, Chief Justice of New York, Frederick Smith, 
Chief Justice of New Jersey, Peter Oliver, Chief Justice of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay, and Robert Auchmuty, Judge of Admiralty, to 
make inquiry into the affair of burning the Gaspee at Rhode- 
Island. Admiral Montague was directed to hoist his flag at 
Newport, during the sitting of the Court of Enquiry. The 
Commissioners accordingly met at Newport, made inquiry and 
adjourned. They met again, and dissolved their meeting. It 
produced nothing but expense." — Ibid. 



201 

NOTE v.— p. 182. 
Baron De Courct. 

The following notice of this nobleman is taken from the New- 
port Mercury 1832 ;— 

"On the first of February last, died at Kinsale, the Right Hon. 
Thomas De Gourcy, Lord Kinsale, Baron De Courcy and Ring- 
rone. His Lordship was the Premier Baron of Ireland, and en- 
joyed the hereditary privilege of wearing his hat in the royal 
presence, granted to John De Courcy, Earl of Ulster, by King 
John, and lately exercised by Lord John De Courcy, at a Court 
held in Dublin Castle by George Fourth, in 1821." 

"We transcribe this obituary notice from a London paper of 
February 20th, 1832, because we of Rhode-Island, feel a peculiar 
interest with regard to this family, of which the present branch 
sprang from the Town of Newport, Rhode-Island. 

It was probably between the years 1720 and 1725 that the 
younger, and we presume the on/y brother of the Baron of Kinsale, 
for some reasons of discontent, emigrated to North America, and 
selected Newport, R. I, as the place of his residence. He came 
here with small pecuniary means of support, and those means 
being soon exhausted, he was reduced to the slate of a common 
laborer to obtain subsistence. His character was that of a frank 
and honest man, enlivened with the jocose humor of a true son of 
Erin. Whether his wife was a Newport, or an Irish woman, we 
have not to oitr sorrow, the means of ascertaining. Itis, however, 
presumable that he left his home unincumbered with wife or 
children, and married after he settled here. But we have heard 
it related by several of those who knew him well, that he was 
careful to have his children registered, because, us he used to say 
when rallied upon the subject, " there is but one life between ma 
and a peerdom." His eldest son was bound an apprentice to a 



202 

Captain Beard, who, in those days commanded a merchantman 
belonging to this port. This was the youth, who we have reason 
to beheve, shared in the honor of taking Porto Bello, in 1740, 
When Adnjiral Vernon was returning to England from his com- 
mand on the West-India station, a merchant-ship bound from 
London to Jamaica, was spoken, and on inquiry for newspapers, 
the captain of the ship gent two late papers on board the Flag, 
for the gratification of the Admiral, after his long absence. In 
perusing these papers ihe Admiral exclaimed, " Ah ! — ihe Baron 
of Kinsale is dead !" The steward quickly carried the news to a 
young gallant tar of the forecastle whose name was Courcy. 

" Is he dead ? — then, by the powers 1 something will come to 
me!" 

The steward reported this reply to the Admiral, who ordered 
the young sailor to his presence. 

" My lad, what is your name ?" he asked. 

" De Courcy, sir." 

<' Where were you born?" 

" In Newport, Rhode-Island, sir." 

" Are you related to the late Thomas De Courcy Baron of 
Kinsale ?" 

"He was my uncle sir, — he was my father's elder brother." 

"What induced your father to leave Ireland, and settle at 
Newport ?" 

" That reason was my father's secret, your honor, and not 
mine." 

/* Well, my lad, return to your station, and whatever may be 
your change of condition hereafter, I hope you will continue to 
do your duty faithfully, (ill you shall be discharged." 

"Your honor may rely upon that." 

We hold this anecdote from the late Captain Benjamin Pearce, 
who dined with De Courcy at Kinsale, many years after he took 
possession of his title and estates. He was a man of benevolent 



203 

feelings, and preserved, as long as he lived a kind remembrance 
of the place of his birth, and a strong attachment to the man who 
protected and instructed him in boyhood. No Rhode-Islander 
ever, to his knowledge came within fifty miles of his residence, 
without receiving an invitation to his hospitable mansion — and 
the worthy Captain Beard received as a token of De Courcy's 
gratitude, a cask of wine, annually, to the year of his death. 

We have examined all that remains of the Town Registers of 
the first forty years of the ISth century, and have found nothing- 
to shed the least light upon the marriage, family and connections 
of the De Courcy who found an asylum here, but we believe that 
his death preceded for some years that by his brother, the Baron 
of Kinsale. We had strong reasons for saying that it was with 
feelings of sorrow that we found ourselves unable to give an 
explicit account of this family — for these feelings are enhanced 
by a grievous loss inflicted on our whole community by the same 
cause. It is really painful to turn over the mutilated remnants of 
our Town Records. 

The archives of a town are usually respected by all civilized 
nations. The filiation, and consequently the rights and fortunes 
of families, often depend upon the preservation of the Records. 
To pillage or destroy them, is an act so much the more atrocious, 
as it must be done in malicious villainy, without the least prospect 
of benefit to him by whom it is committed. Those of Newport 
were nevertheless carried off by the British Commanding General, 
when he evacuated the town in 1779. The vessel in which they 
were embarked, was shipwrecked and sunk at Hurl-Gate, on its 
way to New York. The case containing the records was many 
weeks afterwards recovered j but those authentic memorials of 
marriages, births, deaths, and conveyances of property were 
almost totally destroyed. This high misdemeanor must be attri- 
buted to General Prescott, whether it were committed by his order, 
by his permission, or by his negligence — for in every case it is the 



204 

duty of the commanding officer, in a station purely military, to 
see that no act be perpetrated under his command, that may 
bring disgrace upon the arms and character of his nation." — 
Newport Mercury, 1832. 

NOTE VI.— p. 185, 

BATTLE OF RHODE-ISLAND. 

A plan was concerted for attacking Rhode-Island, and General 
Sullivan who commanded at Providence was employed in assem- 
bling an additional body of New England militia. Such was the 
eagerness of the people to co-operate with their new allies, (the 
French,) and their confidence of succeeding and reaping*laurels, 
that some thousands of volunteers, gentlemen and others from 
Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Portsmouth, &c. engaged in the 
service. When Count D'Estaing arrived off Point Judith, the 
pilots who were to have facilitated his entrance into Newport 
were wanting, which occasioned a delay. But on the morning of 
the 5th of August, (1778,) his operations commenced. The 
British set fire to the Orpheus, the Lark, Juno and Cercbrus 
frigates, and several other vessels on the appearance of his fleet, 
standing in near Providence Island to attack them. The Flora 
and Falcon were sunk afterward. The next day, (6th,) the 
American troops marched from Providence to Tiverton, under the 
command of General Greene, who had been despatched by Gen- 
eral Washington, from the main army, to assist in the expedition. 
His Excellency also sent on the Marquis De La Fayette at the 
head of two thousand troops, who, by a rapid march, joined the 
militia in season. General Sullivan's first letter to Count D'Es- 
taing, informed him that he was not ready to act, and desired that 
the attack might be suspended. It was agreed between them 
that they should land their forces at Portsmouth on the morning 
of the tenth. On the 8th, the French fleet went up the middle 



205 

passage leading into Newport harbor, when the British batteries 
began a severe cannonade which was returned with great warmth. 
The royal troops on the island having been just reinforced with 
five battahons, were about six thousand, under command of Sir 
Robert Pigot, who took every possible means of defence. The 
force under General Sullivan, was about 10,000 men. Upon 
receiving intelligence early in the month, that the enemy had 
abandoned their works at the north end of the island, and retired 
within their lines, about three miles from Newport, without re- 
garding the agreement with Count D'Estaing, he concluded (as it 
appeared to him best,) to push over without loss of time. The 
army was immediately put in motion about S o'clock. The right 
wing, under General Greene, began to cross from Tiverton, and 
the rest of the Americans followed in order. The Massachusetts 
militia were attended by Mr. Hancock, as their Major General, 
At two in the afternoon, a fleet of 25 sail was discovered stand- 
ing in for Newport. Lord Howe had determined to attempt the 
preservation of the island, but notwithstanding all his exertions, 
could not reach sight of it till the day after the French fleet had 
entered the harbor. Though his own exceeded it in point of 
number, it was far inferior to it in eflTective force. He had one 
ship of 74 guns, seven of 64, five of 50, six from 44 to 3-2, and 
12 smaller vessels, including fire-ships and bomb-ketches. When 
he first appeared, the garrison were much elated, but on learning 
that he brought no provisions, of which they were nearly exhaus- 
ted, they were equally dejected. A sudden change of wind 
favoring the Count, he stood out to sea with all his squadron 
about 8 o'clock the next morning. They were severfely cannon- 
aded in passing the batteries, but received no material damage: 
Howe, deeming the weather-gage too great an advantage to be 
added to the superior force of the Count, contended for that ob- 
ject with all the skill of an experienced seaman, while the Count 

18 



206 

was as eager to preserve it. This contest prevented an engag'e- 
ment on that day, and the wind on the following still continuing 
adverse to the design of Howe, he determined to make the best 
of present circumstances, and wait the approach of the Count. 
A strong gale which increased to a violent tempest, and continued 
nearly 48 hours, put by the engagement. Two of the French 
ships were dismasted, and others much damaged. The Langue- 
doc ut 90 guns, D'Estaing's own ship, lost her rudder and all her 
masts, and was met in that condition on the evening of the 13th, 
by the Renown, of 50 guns. Captain Dawson bore down with- 
out hoisting colors. The Count ordered Capt. Caleb Gardner 
•who was on board as a pilot, to hail him, that he might know 
what ship it was. Dawson made no reply, but ran with a full 
sail and a fair wind till he was under the stern of the Languedoc, 
then hoisted English colors, fired in great and small shot and 
musketry, and sailed off— on which the Languedoc fired two 
chase-guns after him when he attempted to approach her no more. 
The same evening the Preston of 50 guns, Commodore Hotham, 
fell in with the Tonant of 80 guns, with only his mainmast 
standing, and attacked her with spirit — but night put an end to 
the engagement. The junction of six sail of the French 
squadron prevented all further attempts on the two' disabled 
ships, by the Renown and Preston in the morning. 

On the IGth, the Isis of 50 guns, Captain Ray nor, was chased 
by the Ccesar, Captain Bougainville, a French 74 ship. Neither 
had suffered in the tempest. A desperate engagement was main- 
tained on both sides with the gi>eatest obstinacy for an hour and a 
half, within pistol shot. The Caesar at length put before the 
wind and sailed oflj the captain having lost an arm, the lieuten- 
ant his leg, and a number of men being killed and wounded, 
and the ship considerably damaged. The Isis had suffer- 
ed so much in rigging and masts that she could not attempt 
pursuit. 



207 

The troops under General Sullivan having landed, possessed 
themselves of the heights near the north end of the island. They 
suffered no less than the ships by the tempest. The wind blew 
most violently, attended by a flood of rain throughout the day, 
and increased so at night, that not a marque or tent could stand. 
Several soldiers perished by the severity of the storm, many 
horses died, and the greatest part of the ammunition delivered to 
the troops was damaged, and the condition of the army was 
deplorable. The garrison (at Newport,) having enjoyed better 
accommodations, and greater security than the Americans, Sir 
Robert Pigot had a fair opportunity of attacking the latter, while 
dispirited and worn down by the painful scenes from which they 
had just emerged. General Greene, and some British officers, 
are of opinion that a bold and vigorous onset under such circum- 
stances, would have been highly successful. But as nothing of 
the kind occurred, the 14th was spent by the Americans in drying 
their clothes^ &c. and getting in order for an advance. The next 
morning they marched at six o'clock, and took post about two miles 
from the British hnes. By the ^Oth, they had opened two four-gun 
batteries, but their approaches were slow. About two o'clock in 
the afternoon, the French fleet were discovered standing for New- 
port. General Greene and the Marquis La Fayette went on board 
the Languedoc to consult upon the measures proper to be pursued 
for the success of the expedition. They urged Count D'Estaing 
to return to the harbor of Newport. He was apparently inclined 
to a compliance but all his principal officers were rather unfriendly 
to him. He being a land-officer, they thought it an affiont to 
their understandings, and a piece of injustice done to their merits 
to have him appointed over their heads — and therefore crossed him 
in every measure that looked like giving him reputation, in order 
if possible, to bring him into disgrace. His instructions from the 
Court of France were to go into Boston if the fleet met with any 
misfortune, or if there appeared a superior British force upon the 



208 

coast. The Count hadmet with a misfortune — the Caesar which 
had steered for Boston was missing, and a superior British fleet 
■was expected. His ofTicers insisted on his following his instruc- 
tions, and entered a formal protest against his prosecuting the 
expedition any further. 

About twelve o'clock at night General Greene and the Marquis 
returned, and made a report of what had passed. The next day 
letters went on board from Generals Sullivan and Hancock, as 
also a protest, dated, " Camp before Newport, August 22nd 1778," 
and signed by John Sullivan, N. Greene, John Hancock, J. Glo- 
ver, Ezek. Cornell, Wm. Whipple, John Tyler, Solomon Lovett 
and John Fitzconnell. They protested in a solemn manner 
against the Count's taking the fleet to Boston, as derogatory to 
the honor of France, contrary to the intention of his most chris- 
tian majesty and the interest of his nation, and destructive in the 
highest degree to the welfare of the United States of America, 
and highly injurious to the alliance formed between the two na- 
tions. One of the reasons assigned for the protest was, that the 
army and stores collected for the reduction of the Island would 
be lost by giving the enemy an opportunity of cutting off* the 
communication with the main, and totally preventing the retreat 
of the army. The best apology that can be offered for the protest 
is, that it was designed as a finesse to induce the captains of 
the French fleet to consent to its returning to Newport. 
But it had not this efiect, and met with a spirited answer from 
the Count who sailed next day for Boston. 

It appears unreasonable to censure the Count for going to Bos- 
ton when his officers insisted on the measure, though had he 
returned to Newport, the (British) garrison would most probably 
have capitulated before Howe could have succored them. 

Upon his fleets sailing for Boston, it was said that " there never 
was a prospect so favorable blasted by such a shameful desertion." 
A universal clamor prevailed against the French, and letters 



209 

were sent to Boston containing the most bitter invectives ajrainst 
D'Estaing and all his officers, to counteract whicli the cooler and 
more judicious part of the community employed their good offices. 

Between two and three thousand volunteers returned home in 
the course of twenty-four hours, and others continued to go off 
even among the militia, so that in three days Sullivan's army was 
greatly reduced, and was soon little more in number than lliat of 
the enemy. An attempt to carry the works by storm would have 
been too hazardous had all (he volunteers and militia remained, for 
the balk of the troops had never been in action. The necessity 
of a retreat was now therefore apparent, though on the morning of 
the 23rd the Americans had opened batteries, consisting in the 
whole of seventeen pieces of heavy artillery, 2 ten-inch mortars 
and three five-and-a-half-inch howitzers. Greene was against 
retreating hastily lest the appearance of timidity and inferiority 
should bring the enemy upon them, but he and Glover prepared 
for an expeditious retreat in case Clinton should arrive with a re- 
inforcement. By the 26lh all the spare heavy artillery and bag- 
gage were sent off the Island, and on the 2Sth at night between 
nine and ten the army began to move to the north end, it having 
been that day resolved in a council of war to remove thither, for- 
tify the camp, secure a communication with the main and hold 
the ground til! it could be known whether the French would return 
to their assistance. The Marquis La Fayette went to Boston to 
request their speedy return. Count D'Estaing would not consent 
to the return of the fleet, but offered to lead the troops under his 
command from Boston and co-operate with them against Rhode- 
Island. 

The march of Sullivan's army was conducted with great order 
and regularity, and the troops arrived on the ground about 3 
o'clock in the morning. About 7, they were alarmed by a brisk 
fire of musketry in their front, between their advanced corps of 

18* 



210 

infantry and the enemy, who had pushed after them on discover- 
ing their retreat. SuUivan asked the opinion of the Generals, and 
Greene advised to march and meet them, for he truly supposed 
they were come out in small detachments which might be cut to 
pieces, and farther apprehended that by advancing in force on the 
western road, they might possibly head that part of the enemy 
which marched down upon the cast, and so unexpectedly possess 
themselves of Newport. Had this measure been adopted the 
Americans would probably have gained great advantages, as the 
whole of the enemy's force on the western road consisted only 
of Hessian chasseurs and the Anspach regiments of Voit and 
Scaboth, under Gen. Lossberg. On the east road was Gen. Smith, 
wilh the 22d and 43rd regiments, and the flank companies of the 
3Slh and 54th. To the latter were opposed Col. Henry B. Liv- 
ingston and his light troops. To the former, Col. Laurens with 
his. The enem}''s superiority of numbers obliged both to give 
way, but a retreating fire was kept up with the greatest order. 
The advanced corps being re-inforced, gave the enemy a check, 
made a gallant resistance, and at length repulsed them. But the 
British commander sending forward reinforcements both to Loss- 
berg and Smith, the Americans were obliged to retire near the 
front line of the army, which was drawn up in order of battle. 
The British advanced very near the Americans, but were repulsed 
by Glover, and retired to Q,uaker-hill. The royal troops sooa 
availed themselves of the two heights on Sullivan's right, where 
they placed several pieces of artillery, and at 9 o'clock began a 
severe cannonade on a redoubt, an advanced post on his right, 
which was returned with double force. Skirmishing continued 
between the advanced parties till 10, when the British ship of war, 
and several armed vessels having gained his right flank, began a 
fire — their associates on land bent their force that very way, 
endeavoring to turn Sullivan's right under cover of their ships, 
and to lake his advanced redoubt. This brought on a warm and 



211 

brisk fire of musketry between the contending parties, and the 
action became in some degree general, and nearly 1200 Americans 
were engaged. The last of those that were sent forward fiot up 
just in time to prevent the success of the enemy, who were ma- 
king a third effort to carry the redoubt — but they were now broken 
and retreated to the heights in great confusion leaving- many of 
their dead and wounded on the field. After their retreat the field 
of battle could not be approached by either without their being 
exposed to the cannonade of the other army. The heat of the 
action was from two till nearly five o'clock in the afternoon,. (Au- 
gust 29th, 1 778.) The firing of artillery continued through the day 
— the musketry with intermission, six hours. The Americans 
make their loss in killed 30, wounded 132, missing 44. The 
Bi-ilish account makes their own killed 38, wounded 280, and 
missing 12. Gen. Greene in a letter to the commander-in-chief, 
says, " Our troops behaved with great spirit, and the brigade of 
militia under Gen. Lovell advanced with great resolution and in 
good order. Lieut. Col. Livingston, Col. Jackson, and Col. H. 
B. Livingston did themselves great honor in the transactions of 
the day. But it is not in my power to do justice to Col. Laurens, 
who acted both the General and the partisan. His command of 
regular troops was small, but did every thing possible to be done 
by their numbers," 

Greene who commanded in the attack, did himself the highest 
honor by the bravery and judgment he exhibited. He attended 
strictly to the action the whole time, watching the movements of 
the enemy, and when to throw in the necessary reinforcements. 

Gen. Sullivan next morning receiving advice that Lord Howe 
had again sailed, that a fleet was ofTBlock Island, and that Count 
D'Estaing- could not come as soon as he had been expected, it 
was concluded to evacuate the island. The sentries of both ar- 
mies being within 400 yards of each other, the greatest attention 
was requisite. To cover the design of retreating, a great number 



212 

of tents were brought forward and pitched in sight of the enemy, 
and the whole army employed in fortifying the camp. At the same 
time the heavy artillery and stores were falling back and crossed 
the bay. At dark the tents were struck — the light baggage and 
troops passed down, and by twelve o'clock the main army had 
crossed. About that time the IVfarquis Lafayette arrived from 
Boston ; he was sensibly mortified that he was not in the action. 
That he might not be out of the way in case of one, he had rode 
from the island to Boston, 70 miles in seven hours, and returned 
in six and a half. He got back in time to bring off the picketts 
and other parties that covered the retreat, which he did in excel- 
lent order — not a man was left behind, nor an article lost. The 
honor arising from so good a retreat, though great, did not com- 
pensate for the disappointment General Sullivan met with when 
in full expectation of taking Newport. The place must have 
fallen, had not Count D'Estaingleft the harbor, or had he returned 
after chasing Lord Howe to a considerable distance." — Gordon's 
History of the American Revolution, vol. "2. p. 369. 

NOTE VII.— p. 186 

CAPTURE OF GENERAL PRESCOTT. 

"A spirited adventure took place on the side of Rhode-Island, 
which not only fully retaliated the surprise of General- Lee, but 
procured an indemnification of his person. Lieut. Colonel Barton, 
of a militia regiment of that state, with several other officers and 
volunteers to the number of 40, passed by night, July 10th, 1777, 
from Warwick Neck to Rhode-Island, and though they had a pas- 
sage of ten miles by water, eluded the watchfulness of the ships 
of war, and guard-boats which surrounded the island. They 
conducted the enterprise with such silence and dexterity that they 
surprised General Prescott at his quarters, about one mile from 
the water side, and five from Newport, and brought him with one 



^Ul^30 



IQAa 



213 

of his aides de-camp safe to the continent, which they had nearly 
reached before there was any alarm amongst the enemy. This 
adventure, which with impartial judges, must outweigh Col. 
Harcourt's capture of General Lee, produced much exult- 
ation on one side and much regret on the other, from the influence 
it must necessarily have on Lee's destination. Congress resolved 
within a few days after hearing of Prescott's capture that an el- 
egant sword should be provided and presented to Col. Barton." — 
Gordon's History, Vol. 2nd. page 213. 

" Lieutenant Colonel Barton of the Rhode-Island militia, plan- 
ned a bold exploit for taking Major Gen. Prescott, the command- 
ing officer of the royal army at Newport, Taking with him on 
the night of the 10th July 1777, about 40 men in two boats with 
muffled oars, he had the address to elude the vigilance of the ships 
of war and guard-boats, and having arrived undiscovered at 
the quarters of Gen. Prescott, they were mistaken for the senti- 
nels, and the General was not alarmed till his captors were at the 
door of his lodging-chamber, which was fast closed, A negro 
man named Prince, instantly thrust his beetle-head through the 
pannel door, and seized his victim in bed. The General's aid-de- 
camp leaped undressed from a window and endeavored to escape, 
but was taken, and with the General brought off in safety. In 
repassing the water-guards Gen. Prescott said to Col. Barton, 
* Sir, I did not think it possible you could escape the vigilance 
of the water-guards.' This is the second time that General 
Prescott has been a prisoner in our hands within two years. The 
adventure is extremely honorable to the enterprising spirit of Coi. 
Barton, and is considered an ample retaliation for the capture of 
General Lee. The event occasions great joy and exultation, as 
it puts into our possession an officer of equal rank with Gen. 
Lee, by which means his exchange may be obtained. Congress 
resolved that an elegant sword should be presented to Col. Barton 
for his brave exploit." — Thatcher's Military Journal, p. 193. 



^i/0.^^ 



